Vella's nomination was supported by both the governing Labour Party and opposition Nationalist Party.[2] The Democratic Party announced they supported Vella's nomination for the presidency but would boycott the vote to protest in favour of a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds majority to elect the president,[3] and the party's two MPs did not attend the vote.[4]
The election was followed by Vella's formal swearing-in as president on 4 April 2019.[5]