Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela claimed a record-breaking, fourth successive general election victory for ​his Labour Party on Sunday.

“This is a ‌victory of all the people based on the programme we presented for all the people,” Abela told reporters, saying ​results showed his party had “won a strong ​mandate”.

“Let us maintain the spirit of national unity ⁠and move the country forward together,” he ​said.

Journalists following the vote count said Labour had won ​a comfortable parliamentary majority, although it appeared to be narrower than in 2022, when it took 55 percent of all ballots ​cast.

Charles Bonello, general secretary of the opposition ​Nationalist Party, conceded the election in remarks to TVM, the state ‌broadcaster, ⁠but said his party had nevertheless managed to slash back Labour’s majority.

The election was held on Saturday and saw a turnout of 87.4 percent, slightly ​up on the ​last general ⁠election in 2022.

Labour campaigned on the strength of a strong economy, experience ​and credibility in government. The Nationalist Party ​argued ⁠that people’s quality of life had deteriorated despite a growing economy in the European Union’s smallest nation.

Abela, ⁠who ​succeeded Joseph Muscat as leader ​of the Labour Party in 2020, will be sworn in on ​Monday morning.