 On March 8, 2008 the Maltese electorate went out to vote for the first general elections since Malta's entry in the European Union.
In these general elections, following a five week electoral campaign,the Maltese re-elected the Nationalist Party (PN) for another five years albeit by a narrow majority - with a mere 1,200 votes. The Malta Labour Party, however, won the majority of parliamentary seats and consequently the PN was granted four extra seats in parliament so that it gained a parliamentary majority as is demanded by the Maltese constitution.  This time round, the issue of EU membership was negligible to the electoral campaign whereas fierce debate on the environment, fiscal incentives, credentials for governance, personal integrity and party credibility dominated the parties' propoganda and slogans, the mudslinging, the colourful mass meetings and the daily press conferences.
The campaign also focused on the personal traits of the two main leaders, Nationalist Prime Minister Dr Lawrence Gonzi and the Leader of the Opposition and the Malta Labour Party Dr Alfred Sant.
Four political parties have contested contest the elections, with Azzjoni Nazzjonali being the newcomer. Following the poor support for the two smaller parties both the Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika - the green party, Dr Harry Vassallo and the leader of Azzjoni Nazzjonali, Dr Josie Muscat have expressed their decision to resign from party leadership.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi was sworn in on Tuesday March 11th whereas the new Cabinet was sworn in the following day. PM Gonzi chose to have eight ministries for the next five years, four less than the previous administration. The prime minister's office now oversees also tourism and environment which includes the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.
On April 2nd, the executive council of the Nationalist Party met to decide by secret vote on the seats to be vacated by candidates elected from two districts. The PN had six such candidates, namely; Lawrence Gonzi, Tonio Borg, Tonio Fenech, Dolores Cristina, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Robert Arrigo.  In the meantime, following Dr Alfred Sant's resignation from party leader, a number of hopefuls have expressed their interest in the vacant post. The new leader, however, will only be elected in June.
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