Election Playbook: Robert Abela's unseasoned chicken
Robert Abela’s work lunch is ‘giving boy dinner’, as per gen-z slang – here’s your day 27 round-up
28 May 2024, 7:23am
Nicole Meilak
Nicole Meilak
3 min read
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Abela’s Day in the Life: When I saw that Robert Abela’s team uploaded a Day in the Life video on Sunday, I knew I had a goldmine of playbook material at hand. And it did not disappoint. If the brief close shot of the boxing gloves was a nod to Joseph Muscat’s boxing metaphors, then I consider it high art. In between visiting investment announcements and Labour Party activities, he was filmed making a humble lunch at the Castille kitchen. And sure was it humble... a grilled chicken breast seasoned with salt and pepper, a small serving of sauce (mustard?) and a bowl of Dujardin peas. It is the quintessential “boy dinner”. The peas are in one of those kitchen bowls that come free with cereal boxes. The chicken is so white it’s racist. A new tender is open at the Office of the Prime Minister and it’s for a spice kit.
Il-Kamp Politiku: Labour Island starts today! Because I refuse to work unnecessary overtime, I am writing this before the series premiere at 8:10pm. But I’m going to take the opportunity to make a few uneducated predictions on what will happen. I’d say Jesmond Marshall is going to have the best one-liners, followed by Alex Agius Saliba. They’re going to have a cute homemade dinner, and two MEPs are going to share a bed or sleep in the living room. No deep political discussions just yet – that will come in episode two. The first episode will be dedicated to setting the scene and humanising the MEPs.
Metsola media: Between Abela’s day-in-the-life and Il-Kamp Politiku, I’ve been writing a lot about Labour’s social media content. Who can blame me? As much as I would love to see Bernard Grech doing a what’s-in-my-bag video, the Nationalist Party hasn’t been forthcoming. But Roberta Metsola makes up for it. On Facebook she’s going out and about while adding a personal touch to her social media content, always commenting in her own posts about how her white jeans were “less than ideal” for a day of meeting fishermen and farmers, or that there are few better establishments than is-Serkin for some pastizzi. Note how she didn’t say is-Serkin is *the best*. And at MaltaToday we agree, but we give the top spot to Roger’s in Żejtun.
We Ryde at dawn: And I can’t talk about social media personalities without talking about James Ryder, who apparently makes the top 10 candidates list as per IDEA Group’s Malta Survey project, right below Arnold Cassola. Maybe it’s because he recently launched a new political advert that was aired on the state broadcaster during Sunday’s Love Island showing. And of course, he took the opportunity to adopt a Love Island approach to the advert. “I want to couple up... with your vote” and “I’m the bad boy of politics” are only a handful of the humorous one-liners on this advert. It’s certainly one of the better campaign ads doing the Love Island rounds.
@james__ryder Incase you missed it last night, here’s my campaign ad broadcasting on TVM (…which happens to be during a particular show which had no bearing on the ad’s creative direction) Good morning to all. #ryder2024 #wevehadworse ♬ original sound - James Ryder
What’s happening today?: The Nationalist Party will be in Naxxar at 6:30pm. The Labour Party will be in Floriana at 5:30pm and in Gżira at 6:30pm.
This article is part of a content series called Ewropej. This is a multi-newsroom initiative part-funded by the European Parliament to bring the work of the EP closer to the citizens of Malta and keep them informed about matters that affect their daily lives. This article reflects only the author’s view. The action was co-financed by the European Union in the frame of the European Parliament's grant programme in the field of communication. The European Parliament was not involved in its preparation and is, in no case, responsible for or bound by the information or opinions expressed in the context of this action. In accordance with applicable law, the authors, interviewed people, publishers or programme broadcasters are solely responsible. The European Parliament can also not be held liable for direct or indirect damage that may result from the implementation of the action.
Nicole Meilak is deputy online editor and IĠM press awards (Most Promising Journalist) wi...
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