Malta PM declares Labour win

Malta’s prime minister claimed victory yesterday in early elections called to consolidate the government’s position, saying unofficial results indicate a “sizeable” win for his Labour Party.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said voters had “chosen the positive campaign of the Labour Party as against the negativity and bitterness of the Nationalist Party”.

Muscat called the snap elections a year early following an investigation into allegations his wife owned a company related to the Panama Papers scandal.

The couple deny any wrongdoing.