The Nationalist Party has gone through a very tough time the past years. It failed to make headway in the polls, its internal divisions were being aired in public, and the public lacked faith in the party.

It is still a long way off from being able to challenge for the country’s leadership, but it does seem that the PN last week started gaining some momentum. A protest it organised last Sunday following the court judgement annulling the hospitals’ deal saw considerable support, where thousands flocked to Valletta. As to whether this is translating into any kind of jump in the polls, well one would need to wait for the next batch of surveys. But the party is looking stronger than it was before.

A few months ago nobody would have thought that the party would have been able to attract a crowd like that.

Grech, when speaking to the protestors on Sunday, said that while the government gave millions and millions of the people’s money to Steward Health Care, today there are still patients in hospital wards underground, with no windows or sanitary facilities. “This is the theft of people’s health; this is the theft of people’s dignity,” he said.

The issue itself, being healthcare, is one that affects each and every one of us. It is an issue that everyone in the country can understand. Many questioned where the money that was given to the concessionaires was going. The videos showing the state of St Luke’s hospital were shocking.

The government also has absolutely no defence against criticism. Government allowed the concession to go on for so long. Some people in government were even around when the original, highly controversial concessionaire was chosen. The government must accept responsibility. Government didn’t revoke the concession when milestones were missed.

As for the landmark court judgement itself, investigations need to pick up pace into any criminal wrongdoing. The police need to act properly and quickly for justice to be served.

Following the court judgement, PN MP Adrian Delia and Opposition Leader Bernard Grech are being seen together regularly and the party is sending out a message of unity. This, when the party has faced so much criticism over internal fractures for so long, is very important. If the party wants to continue making headway, the message of unity is essential. As to whether the PN can keep this up remains to be seen, but so far it is doing so.

But it is not only the hospitals deal that is seeing the PN seemingly gain momentum. There are other issues that the party is fighting on, such as regarding PBS and the Broadcasting Authority. The constitutional court had confirmed an original judgment ruling that PBS and the Broadcasting Authority had failed to ensure impartiality regarding the length of time to publish a right of reply. The party has been trying to capitalise on this issue, and just yesterday placed a sign showing off the ONE logo outside the Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) building and called PBS “Super ONE 2.”

Then there is also the issue of the Standards Commissioner. Agree or disagree with the PN’s decision to vote against the person government wanted appointed, the PN stood by its guns on the issue, and if the new Standards Commissioner does not live up to expectations, then that will be solely on the government.