Page "History of Malta" Paragraph 50

The Party was confirmed in office in the 1976 elections.

Between 1976 and 1981 Malta went through difficult times and the Labour government demanded that the Maltese were to tighten their belts in order to overcome the difficulties Malta was facing.

There were shortages of essential items ; the water and electricity supplies were systematically suspended for two or three days a week.

Political tensions increased, notably on Black Monday when following an attempted assassination of the Prime Minister, the premises of the Times of Malta were burned to the ground and the house of the Leader of Opposition was attacked.