Malta's 33-day election cycle demonstrates that democracy can function efficiently without America's prolonged, destructive political process
Source: Mariska Breland. "Election results: This European country picked a leader in 33 days.." June 6, 2026. slate.com
The Gist
The author argues that America's endless election cycles are damaging democracy, while Malta shows you can run fair elections in just 33 days and still get things done for citizens. She thinks Americans should learn from Malta's quick, efficient approach to politics instead of treating elections like a never-ending spectacle.
Conclusion
American democracy could learn from Malta's approach to elections, which treats politics as something to deal with and move on from rather than as a way of life
Premises
- Malta conducted a complete national election in just 33 days, from announcement to results, while American campaigns last for years
- Despite making thousands of campaign promises and having corruption scandals, Malta's government still delivers tangible benefits to citizens like gas subsidies
- Malta achieved 87.5% voter turnout with hand-counted ballots and no remote voting, compared to America's ~67% turnout despite easier voting methods
- Maltese elections end definitively without legal challenges, vote counting disputes, or claims of fraud that plague American elections
- Malta's political system allows citizens to inherit party loyalty without destroying family relationships, unlike America's politically divided families
- Malta's government delivers visible, popular policies that citizens can directly experience, while American politics often fails to deliver broadly supported initiatives
Assumptions
- Shorter election cycles are inherently better for democratic governance
- Political corruption is less harmful when governments still deliver services effectively
- Family political unity is preferable to political independence and debate
- Malta's small size and homogeneity make its system potentially scalable to larger, more diverse nations
- Efficiency in elections correlates with better democratic outcomes