Maltese general election -- June 3, 2017

[Barnes]

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has called a snap election for June 3, staving off calls from the opposition for his resignation over allegations of his wife's off shore holdings in Panama.

The previous election in March 2013 produced a solid victory for Labour:
Labour (Partit Laburista): 39 seats and 54.83% of the vote
Nationalist (Partit Nazzjonalista): 30 seats and 43.34% of the vote

[Barnes]

A Malta Today poll conducted last week has Labour on 36% against the Nationalists at 33% with 11% claiming they were undecided and 8% stating they wouldn't vote.

Removing those last two categories produces a result of 51% for PL and 46% for PN.

Incidentally, this will be the first election since 1962 to have six parties contesting.

[Barnes]

A new Malta Today poll has Labour at 51.9 versus National on 47.5. Both parties have had their positions tick up slightly, but the PN figure is slightly begeiling as it includes those who indicated supporting PD as well.

Muscat continues to lead most trusted leader 41 to 36 over Busuttil.

[Barnes]

Talk about an election that sunk up on us!

Yep, unofficial results show a ten-point margin of victory for Labour, and Muscat has declared victory.