1987 Maltese general election

{{short description|none}}

{{Infobox election

| country = Malta

| type = parliamentary

| previous_election = 1981 Maltese general election

| previous_year = 1981

| next_election = 1992 Maltese general election

| next_year = 1992

| election_date = 9 May 1987

| image1 = Edward Fenech Adami (cropped).jpg

| leader1 = Eddie Fenech Adami

| leader_since1 =

| party1 = Nationalist Party (Malta)

| last_election1 = 50.92%, 31 seats

| seats1 = 35

| seat_change1 = {{increase}} 4

| popular_vote1 = 119,721

| percentage1 = 50.91%

| swing1 = {{decrease}}0.01pp

| image2 = 3x4.svg

| leader2 = Mifsud Bonnici

| party2 = Labour Party (Malta)

| last_election2 = 49.07%, 34 seats

| seats2 = 34

| seat_change2 = {{steady}}

| popular_vote2 = 114,936

| percentage2 = 48.87%

| swing2 = {{decrease}}0.20pp

| map_image = Malta general election 1987.png

| title = Prime Minister

| before_election = Mifsud Bonnici

| before_party = Labour Party (Malta)

| after_election = Eddie Fenech Adami

| after_party = Nationalist Party (Malta)

}}{{Politics of Malta}}

General elections were held in Malta on 9 May 1987.Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1302 {{ISBN|978-3-8329-5609-7}} The Nationalist Party won a majority of votes and won a one-seat majority in the unicameral legislature.{{Cite journal |last=Howe |first=Stephen |date=1987-12-01 |title=The Maltese general election of 1987 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0261379487900345 |journal=Electoral Studies |volume=6 |issue=3 |pages=235–247 |doi=10.1016/0261-3794(87)90034-5 |issn=0261-3794|url-access=subscription }} Although the Nationalist Party received the most votes, the Malta Labour Party won a majority of seats. However, in accordance with the modifications made to the electoral system following a similar outcome in the 1981 elections, the Nationalist Party was awarded an extra four seats in order to give them a parliamentary majority.Nohlen & Stöver, p1310

The elections ended 16 years of Labour government, with Nationalist Party Eddie Fenech Adami becoming Prime Minister. Adami stated that he would align the country more closely with Western governments and distance Malta from Muammar Gaddafi.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KmAxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AxQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3404,5366381&dq=karmenu-mifsud-bonnici&hl=en|title=Conservative will lead Malta|work=Star-News|date=13 May 1987|page=6A|accessdate=4 November 2010}}