Joseph Muscat Will Not Run in Malta's June 2024 Elections, Close Friend Confirms

Joseph Muscat, the former Prime Minister of Malta, will not be running in the upcoming European Parliament elections in June 2024, according to his close friend and former Labour general secretary Jason Micallef. Micallef expressed his disappointment with Muscat's decision in a Facebook post.

Muscat had been keeping the electorate guessing about a possible political comeback after being forced out of office in 2019 due to the political crisis triggered by the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. However, Muscat has now confirmed that he will make an official announcement about his decision not to be a candidate by the deadline for nominations on Monday, April 29th.

In January, another close collaborator of Muscat, Emanuel Cuschieri, had sparked speculation about Muscat's potential return to politics, but Muscat did not rule out the possibility at the time. An internal Labour party poll reported by Times of Malta in February indicated that Muscat's candidacy would have helped the party win the European elections by a significant margin over the Nationalists.

Why this matters: Joseph Muscat's decision not to run in the upcoming elections is a significant development in Maltese politics, given his former role as Prime Minister and the speculation surrounding his potential comeback. His absence could have implications for the Labour Party's prospects in the European Parliament elections.

Micallef stated that Muscat's absence from the elections is a major opportunity lost for Malta and the Labour Party. "Joseph Muscat will not be contesting the upcoming European Parliament elections. A missed opportunity for Malta and the Labour Party," Micallef wrote on Facebook. Muscat's decision puts an end to months of speculation about his political future and potential return to the forefront of Maltese politics.

Key Takeaways

• Joseph Muscat, former PM of Malta, will not run in 2024 EU elections.
• Muscat's close friend Jason Micallef expressed disappointment over this decision.
• Muscat had been considering a political comeback after resigning in 2019.
• Internal Labour poll showed Muscat's candidacy would have helped party win EU elections.
• Muscat's absence is a "missed opportunity" for Malta and the Labour Party.