The pre-election campaign had already gone through a frenzied crescendo until the Parliamentary Christmas recess and particularly until news emerged that the Leader of the Opposition had to be hospitalised to undergo a major operation. 

The Prime Minister will have his options restricted given that he will probably not call the general elections until it is clear what the implications of Alfred Sant’s health are on the political process. Lawrence Gonzi is constitutionally bound to call an election by August but, until news of Sant's predicament,  was widely expected to call an election in the first quarter. He will now have to wait and see. 

When it happens, a number of issues are expected to be on the electoral campaign agenda such as the question of the legality of hunting and trapping in Spring, plans for the Grand Harbour, the management of the economy and the issue of sound and efficient public administration.  

The emergence of a new right wing political formation that will contest the elections for the first time has to be factored in. Alternattiva Demokratika will aim to improve on their poor performance in the 2003 elections and build on their positive result in the 2004 European elections.

Still, the 2008 election will, once again, be a direct clash between a PN administration that has led the country since 1987 with an 18 month interruption in the late Nineties and a Labour Opposition that, despite the uncertainty created by Alfred Sant’s health condition, is hoping to take its turn to administer the country after so many years on the opposition benches. 

The issue of illegal migration may be contained more than in the recent past during the coming year due to a substantial increase of patrols by FRONTEX scheduled for 2008 as well as due to a new agreement just signed between Italy and Libya for joint patrols in the central Mediterranean.   

The Government will need to deal with real or perceived public fears in 2008 of a rise in the cost of living induced by the introduction of the euro as Malta’s official currency. Although a recent Eurobarometer survey indicates that 76 per cent of the Maltese population are positive about embracing the euro, surveys show that a majority fear a rise in prices during 2008 as a consequence of the rounding up of the currency by retailers. 

One thing is sure to happen during 2008. EU institutions particularly the European Commission will be vigilant in monitoring Malta's efforts to stay on the path of economic convergence to ensure that government debt, the public deficit and inflation remain within established criteria. The euro area  requires a continued commitment to sound public finances and structural reforms and this will surely be high on the agenda of the Maltese authorities particularly in the first stages of membership of the euro zone. 

On a lighter note, The Malta Song for Europe competition due to be held at the end of January is expected to grab the public’s attention.  The winner, who will represent Malta in the Eurovision song contest in May in Serbia, will be expected to improve on Malta’s poor performance last year in Helsinki.