As Malta’s political system stagnates under a two-party deadlock, a bold proposal calls for the Nationalist Party to split and lead a new coalition that could finally challenge Labour’s dominance.1. Why the PN Should Split to Defeat LabourMalta’s two-party system is at a crossroads. The Nationalist Party (PN), once synonymous with Malta’s biggest political milestones, is now fractured and directionless. Faced with an ideological identity crisis, it’s struggling to rally a broad enough base to meaningfully challenge the Labour Party.The PN is trying to be everything to everyone, a strategy that once worked but now leaves voters alienated. One faction leans heavily conservative, focused on traditional Maltese values such as family, religion, and opposition to liberal reforms like abortion and euthanasia. These voters feel abandoned whenever the PN takes a more progressive stance.On the other hand, there’s a growing nationalist-leaning segment concerned with issues like overpopulation, cultural erosion, and economic sustainability. They are frustrated by Malta’s rapid, unregulated growth and want leadership that puts the country’s long-term interests first, especially environmental and social stability.Trying to juggle these two groups has left the PN paralysed. When it leans one way, it loses the other. The lingering fallout from leadership changes like the removal of Adrian Delia has deepened divisions. Many of his supporters still feel betrayed, while others would disengage if someone like him returned to leadership. It’s a lose-lose scenario.Rather than continue down this path of internal compromise and electoral decline, the PN should consider a strategic split, two distinct parties, one conservative, the other nationalist, each free to campaign on its own principles. This wouldn’t be a retreat but a reformation, creating two sharper political identities that can better represent and re-energise their voter bases. A split would make space for a more dynamic coalition that could finally challenge Labour’s dominance.2. A Coalition for Malta: Strategy and StructureThis strategic split sets the stage for “A Coalition for Malta,” a united electoral front made up of the new Conservative and Nationalist parties, along with like-minded smaller parties such as ADPD. The goal is to create a viable and united alternative without forcing ideological compromise.Malta’s voting system heavily penalises smaller parties. A party could receive thousands of votes nationwide and still fail to elect a single MP if it doesn’t hit a quota in any one district. It’s a system that silences many voters and sustains the two-party lock.“A Coalition for Malta” would solve this by placing all allied candidates, conservative, nationalist, and green, on a single ballot list. Voters could support their preferred candidates while ensuring their vote contributes to the Coalition’s overall strength. This prevents wasted votes and boosts the chances of electing a diverse group of MPs under one banner.The key is clarity. Voters must know exactly who they’re voting for and what each party in the coalition stands for. Clear visual cues on the ballot and thorough public communication would be essential.Critics will argue that coalitions lead to chaos, but this can be addressed head-on. The coalition should publish a transparent agreement well ahead of the election, outlining leadership structures, policy priorities, and how cabinet roles will be distributed. The PN’s media network should give all partners equal visibility, showing real unity and shared purpose.By allowing each faction to reconnect with its base and by bringing in smaller parties with dedicated followings, the Coalition could appeal to a much broader segment of disaffected voters. This strategy is about turning abstention into participation and forming an electoral force strong enough to defeat Labour’s long-standing majority.3. Toward Proportional Representation and a New Political EraBeyond the next election, the Coalition must commit to a bigger goal, electoral reform that delivers true proportional representation. Malta’s current system, with 13 districts electing five MPs each, creates the illusion of fairness but entrenches the dominance of the two major parties.The Single Transferable Vote (STV) system may work on paper, but in practice, it leaves thousands of votes unrepresented. A small party could get 6,500 first preferences across the country and still win no seats. The “bonus seat” rule that gives a majority to the party with the most first-preference votes only worsens the imbalance, freezing out new voices.The Coalition can promise a solution even before constitutional reform. Any small party within it that earns enough votes for a quota across multiple districts but doesn’t win a seat would still gain parliamentary representation. This could be done through the strategic allocation of seats left vacant by double-elected MPs, giving them to the highest-performing candidate from the underrepresented coalition partner.This immediate fix would be a first step toward a broader reform plan. While a full shift to a Mixed-Member Proportional (MMP) system may be too drastic initially, the Coalition could push for practical reforms like a national list component or revised transfer rules that better reflect national vote share.Even without immediate constitutional change, continued collaboration within the Coalition would prove that a multi-party system is not only possible but more responsive and accountable. The long-term vision is clear, a Malta where no vote is wasted, no voice is sidelined, and diverse ideas shape national policy.Voters are tired of the binary choice and the stagnation it breeds. A Coalition for Malta offers a chance to revitalise democracy, invite back the disillusioned, and inject new energy into the political system. Just as the PN once led Malta into the EU, it can now lead the country into a new era of proportional and representative governance.Joe Aquilina tries to run his family’s business and is a trainee urban farmer.Lovin Malta is open to interesting, compelling guest posts from third parties. These opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the views of the company. Submit your piece at hello@lovinmalta.com.•