Roberta Metsola’s Next Move? Politico Weighs In
Politico, a heavyweight in EU political reporting, has published a piece exploring the possibility of European Parliament President Roberta Metsola returning to national politics following the resignation of Malta’s Opposition Leader.
The article highlights how Metsola, Malta’s most high-profile politician on the European stage, is now under internal pressure from the Nationalist Party to lead them into the next general election. This comes after Bernard Grech stepped down as party leader on Tuesday, triggering a leadership vacuum just under two years before the 2027 vote. This date can come earlier in the case Abela calls a snap election.
In the Politico report, a Nationalist Party official — granted anonymity — said Metsola is “seen as the solution” by many within the party, thanks to her broad appeal across internal factions and a solid track record in Brussels. “There will be pressure on Roberta to come over for sure,” the official said.
Metsola, who currently serves as President of the European Parliament, ends her term in January 2027 — shortly before Malta’s election is due. She has so far avoided confirming any plans for a return to local politics, but Politico said that former party leader Grech appeared to allude to her in his resignation statement, pledging “absolute support” to “whoever he or she is.”
According to Politico, internal polling earlier this year showed nearly half of Nationalist Party voters preferred Metsola as party leader — significantly ahead of Grech. The article also notes that Prime Minister Robert Abela has hinted he could call a snap election if the opposition changes leadership, signalling concern over a potential Metsola candidacy.
Speculation about Metsola’s next move has intensified in recent months. While she was briefly floated as a candidate for European Commission President earlier this year, her lack of national executive experience reportedly worked against her. As Politico points out, a return to Malta — and a bid for the premiership — could be the necessary step to unlock future top-tier EU roles.
For now, Metsola remains publicly silent. But Politico’s article has only fuelled growing speculation that one of Brussels’ top power players might soon be heading back to Valletta — with her eyes set on Castille.