ABBA (political party)

Last updated
ABBA
Partit ABBA
Leader Vacant
Secretary-GeneralSimon Elmer
TreasurerRomina Magro
Founded22 October 2021 (2021-10-22)
Preceded by Alleanza Bidla
Youth wing ABBA Youths
Ideology
Political position Far-right [1] [6]
European affiliation European Christian Political Party
Colours  White
  Red
  Purple
Slogan"Dignity to Malta"
(Maltese: "Dinjità lil Malta")
Parliament of Malta
0 / 79
European Parliament
0 / 6
Website
abba.mt

ABBA (Maltese : Partit ABBA) is a far-right and Christian right political party in Malta.

Contents

History

The party was founded in 2021 by Ivan Grech Mintoff, the former leader of Alleanza Bidla. [7] The party's registrations was initially refused by the Electoral Commission due to the party's name not being able to be shortened to an acronym. In response to this ABBA filed a judicial protest claiming the commission was discriminating against them. The Electoral Commission later agreed to register the party. [7] [8] ABBA took part in the 2022 Maltese General Elections with candidates in all 13 districts, [9] they received 0.42% of votes. [10] Most ABBA candidates which ran in the election are also members of the Christian Charismatic Pentecostal group River of Love. [11]

Grech Mintoff resigned as party leader and from ABBA itself [12] just before the 2024 European Parliament elections, following a dispute with Secretary-General Simon Elmer. [13] Grech Mintoff was still on the ballot as an ABBA candidate due to the papers being printed, but asked to be considered an independent candidate.

The party's social media accounts went inactive after June 2024.

Ideology

ABBA is against COVID restrictions, forming two trade unions in an attempt to fight against them. [14] The party wishes for a national referendum to take place on the Recreational Use of Cannabis, stating the laws introduced that partially legalised recreational cannabis in Malta go against their Christian beliefs. [15]

The party describes itself as pro-life, with founder Ivan Mintoff claiming the Labour and Nationalist parties are "proposing a culture of death" and wish to legalise abortion. The party has filed a police complaint demanding the criminal investigation of 18 Maltese pro-choice activists and organisations. [16] Certain members of the party have espoused various controversial beliefs such as vaccine scepticism, being in favour of freedom of choice. [17]

Election results

House of Representatives

ElectionLeaderVotes%Seats+/−RankStatus
2022 Ivan Grech Mintoff1,3640.46%
0 / 79
New5thExtra-parliamentary

European Parliament

ElectionLeaderVotes%Seats+/−RankEP Group
2024 Ivan Grech Mintoff5270.20
0 / 6
NewIncrease2.svg 5th

References

  1. 1 2 "Who needs the Far Right, anyway, when we have PN/PL?". MaltaToday.com.mt.
  2. "New party ABBA looks to River of Love for election candidates". Times of Malta. 7 March 2022.
  3. Mallia, Amy (29 March 2022). "From ABBA To Żaren: Here's How Malta's Small Political Parties And Independent Candidates Did This Election". Lovin Malta.
  4. "Election Playbook: Getting an ABBA-ortion". MaltaToday.com.mt.
  5. "ABBA goes to court over registration as political party". Times of Malta. 11 October 2021.
  6. 1 2 Cilia, Johnathan (7 March 2022). "Gay Conversion Advocate, Far Right Candidates And More Join 'Religious' Party ABBA". Lovin Malta.
  7. 1 2 "ABBA registered as a new political party". Times of Malta. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  8. "ABBA goes to court over registration as political party". Times of Malta. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  9. "Electoral Commission of Malta General Election 2022 - All nominations". electoral.gov.mt. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  10. "Electoral Commission of Malta". electoral.gov.mt. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  11. "New party ABBA looks to River of Love for election candidates". Times of Malta. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  12. "WATCH: Ivan Grech Mintoff resigns as Partit ABBA's Leader". TVM. Public Broadcasting Services Ltd. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  13. "ABBA publicly chastises its own leader". Times of Malta. Allied Newspapers Ltd. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  14. "ABBA sets up trade unions to fight against COVID restrictions". Times of Malta. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  15. Bonnici, Kelly (2022-02-15). "Recreational Use of Cannabis: A National Referendum". Abba. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  16. "ABBA wants police to investigate 18 activists for breaking abortion laws". Times of Malta. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  17. Cilia, Johnathan (2022-03-07). "Gay Conversion Advocate, Far Right Candidates And More Join 'Religious' Party ABBA". Lovin Malta. Retrieved 2022-03-29.