According to unofficial results, the ruling Labour Party (PL) won the general elections in Malta on Saturday, making it the party’s third consecutive victory.
Since 2013, the party has been in power on the Mediterranean island.
According to Maltese media estimates, the total number of votes collected by the parties is yet unknown, however Labour won by about 30,000 votes.
Labour leader Robert Abela told a national channel that his party had won by a large margin. Supporters greeted his statement with rapturous applause.
Bernard Grech, the leader of the main opposition Nationalist Party, conceded defeat as well and congratulated Abela over the phone.
At 85.5 percent, voter turnout was historically low, down from 92.1 percent in 2017 and 93.3 percent in 2016.
Official results are expected on Monday, after which Abela, 44, will be sworn in and form his new government, which is set to serve for five years.
In January 2020, Abela became prime minister following the resignation of Joseph Muscat due to political pressure over the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.