ADPD leader Sandra Gauci has indicated she is considering stepping away from politics following the 2026 general election, signaling a potential leadership change for Malta’s Green party. Gauci, who took over the helm of Alternattiva Demokratika – Partit Demokratiku in 2022 after the party rebranded and consolidated Malta’s environmentalist movement, has been the face of ADPD through a period of modest but visible growth for the Greens on the island. In recent statements to local media, she suggested that the 2026 election would likely mark the end of her political career, framing the decision as a personal choice to allow new voices to take the party forward rather than a retreat from the values she has championed.
The suggestion comes as ADPD prepares for a difficult electoral cycle dominated by the Labour Party and the Nationalist Party, with third parties continuing to struggle against Malta’s entrenched two-party system. Under Gauci’s leadership, ADPD has focused on environmental protection, good governance, social justice, and civil rights, often positioning itself as a watchdog on planning policy, overdevelopment, and institutional transparency. While the party has not yet secured a seat in parliament, it has gained traction in local councils and consistently pushed climate and anti-corruption issues into the national debate.
Gauci’s possible departure would trigger an internal succession process and raise questions about ADPD’s strategy post-2026. Party activists have credited her with professionalizing ADPD’s messaging and broadening its appeal beyond traditional green voters, but they acknowledge that Malta’s electoral threshold remains a formidable barrier. Her comments did not set a firm resignation date, and she emphasized that she remains fully committed to leading ADPD through the 2026 campaign. Still, by floating her exit early, Gauci appears intent on ensuring a smooth transition and avoiding a leadership vacuum at a critical moment for the party’s future.
