It will be the first direct confrontation between Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition Leader Bernard Grech.

It will also be the first time, for both, that they will deliver a speech in Parliament in reaction to the budget in their respective role. It is, on the whole, the first time in history that the two major political parties changed their leader in the same year.

Grech will be giving his address in the House of Representatives on Monday, with Abela to reply on Tuesday, starting off a political debate that will continue with sessions dedicated to the different ministries over the next two weeks.

Two hours for each leader in which, apart from budgetary considerations, they are both expected to tackle the issues that are being faced by the country, most notably the Covid-19 pandemic that has hit us during this year, and how it has affected the economic performance with a view to what is ahead of us in 2021.

But what happens on Monday and Tuesday is not only about the budget. It will be an occasion for the two leaders to prove themselves, or attempt to, in their respective quest.

Grech will seek to convince the Nationalist tesserati – those who voted for him, those who did not – that he is a better leader than his predecessor Adrian Delia. Even his own MPs, many of whom were instrumental in getting him on the PN’s top pedestal, will be judging his performance, and will be asking themselves whether they have made the right choice.

Abela will aim to persuade the Labour members – the majority who chose him, and the minority who opted for Chris Fearne in the race for the PL leadership last January – that he can walk in the footsteps of the man he substituted: Joseph Muscat who, for Labour hardliners, is still considered to be a saviour in spite of the dark clouds that cut his political career short.

More than this, they both have to try to win over that chunk of the electorate which does not have a party at heart, but which sways from one side to the other of the political spectrum depending on the policies presented – and also depending on who the party leader is. 

This part of the voting population, it must be said, grows bigger with each election that passes, in particular among the younger voters, who are less inclined to follow tradition and are more prepared to move from one party to another – even going against their family’s allegiance.

It must be said, at the outset, that neither Grech nor Abela have the same gift that Delia and Muscat had – the gift of excellent public speaking, the use of simple terms to reach out to and be understood by everyone, and the flow in their verbal arguments and argumentation.

Whether one agreed with them or not, and irrespective of whether they were being believed, both Muscat and Delia had the ability to come across well because they possessed clear articulation which they coupled with energetic and convincing performances and perfect timing of political barbs.

In this regard, as yet both Abela and Grech have not shown themselves to be at the same level as Muscat and Delia. Abela has had more time to practice, since he took over the reins of the Labour Party 10 months ago, while Grech is still in his first month as leader of the PN.

But the art of public speaking does not come natural to everyone, and no matter how much training is given, it is not easy to totally eliminate anxiety and the stress of addressing an audience, a skill that both Muscat and Delia mastered almost to perfection.

And so Abela and Grech must make up for this with the content of their speech. What they lack in public speaking skills, they must compensate with substance. What they lack in charisma they must replace with credibility.

It is expected, of both, to speak in the national interest, not to try to score political points. Malta is passing through one of its major crises because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and although the government has so far been able to sustain the economy and help the private sector, one must wonder how far the government will be in a position to maintain its support. As we all know, no-one can forecast the end of this predicament.

It is also expected, of both, to provide a mature debate, one that is based on facts, not suppositions; one that offers constructive criticism (Grech) and one that provides credible answers (Abela); one that is free of personal attacks, vitriolic comments and character assassinations; one that, irrespective of political colours, gives the nation the idea that the government is trying its hardest and that the opposition is, finally, getting back on its feet.

Malta will be watching.