In today's Malta, the idea of a snap general election would send shockwaves through the political landscape. For the Nationalist Party, it would be both a challenge and an opportunity - a defining moment to reclaim relevance and momentum after more than a decade in opposition.

If I had to map the PN's approach to this high-stakes scenario, in the current climate of 2025, I would go about and introduce a number of issues that are close to the people's hearts and that are impacting our daily lives. Since 2013, the Labour Party has maintained a firm grip on power, winning successive landslide victories in 2013, 2017, and 2022. However, that dominance has begun to show cracks. Public discontent has simmered due to bad governance, mounting corruption allegations and court rulings, rising costs of living, and growing frustration with overdevelopment and institutional decay.

Meanwhile, the PN has been gradually working to reposition itself. Though the party still grapples with a trust deficit and internal scars from past infighting, it has gained traction by challenging the PL's record on the rule of law, economic inequality, and democratic standards.

If the election were tomorrow, the PN's campaign strategy would best revolve around five key pillars:

1. Frame the election: Bad governance = daily hardships

The PN has to portray Labour for what it is. A party in power for the past 13 years that was forced to change leaders but maintained continuity. Labour under the present leadership is simply a political machine that has grown arrogant, disconnected, and out of touch, particularly with my generation. The message: after more than a decade, it's time to clean house. Corruption scandals, institutional erosion, and a lack of accountability would be front and centre.  Removing the power of incumbency is the hardest, yet it is doable if the message is relatable with citizens who are fighting the daily struggle to make ends meet.

2. Emphasise integrity and competence

The PN has to present itself as a trustworthy, competent alternative-focused on new economic models and prosperity while restoring the rule of law, respect for institutions and good governance. The contrast would be drawn clearly between Labour's irresponsible politics of excesses and extravagance for the few versus a reset towards innovation, creation of well-paid jobs and justice under the PN, a proven legacy when considering that Labour did not manage to create one single industry in a decade but is still reeling from the economic success brought about by Nationalist administrations under Eddie Fenech Adami and Lawrence Gonzi.

3. Speak to the people's daily struggles

Real-life issues take precedence. A modern and fresh PN campaign must prioritise:

• The cost-of-living crisis, especially housing for us young people and food affordability.
• Access to quality healthcare without the need to resort to nepotism and a stronger education system that fosters opportunity for all.
• Environmental protection and responsible planning to enhance quality of life.
• Youth empowerment, job opportunities, and the emigration brain drain.
• Anxiety and mental health as the emerging epidemics faced by society.

4. Win over the floating voter

The PN can no longer rely solely on its traditional base. A modern electoral strategy has to focus on attracting disillusioned Labour supporters and undecided voters. As proven in the EU referendum, tone matters. The PN must learn from its recent past that everybody counts and everybody is needed to bring about the much needed change. In its place: a message of inclusion, renewal, and national unity.

5. Modern messaging and fresh faces

Style counts. Expect a tech-savvy, social-media-heavy campaign showcasing younger candidates and a forward-looking vision. Bite-sized, visual messaging would help cut through the noise and reach voters where they are: online.  Mass gatherings and shows of force do not impress the young voters.  We do not need political parties to get a buzz. Young people will support the party that speaks its language with the tools embedded in today's society.

Acknowledging the issues

In reality, it wouldn't be an easy road. The PN will still face considerable obstacles:

• Lingering trust issues: Many still view the PN as out of touch with everyday realities, especially among the working and middle classes.
• Internal divisions: Historical baggage could be weaponized by opponents.
• Media imbalance: Labour still enjoys dominance in narrative-shaping across much of the media landscape, making it harder for the PN to control the public discourse.

If an election were called tomorrow, the PN would still face an uphill battle. Labour's electoral machine remains powerful, and public scepticism toward the PN hasn't vanished overnight.

But the winds of change are blowing. A sharp, clean, and forward-thinking campaign, one that genuinely speaks to the electorate's concerns, could make the PN more competitive than it's been in years. Whether or not it would be enough to flip the majority is uncertain, but gains would be within reach.

For the PN, a snap election would be a huge test of whether it can truly become a party of the future or remain a party stuck in its mindset and risk obliteration.  Important decisions must be taken, of which the first should be to recognise that by staying put the PN will never win by default.

Nicole Portelli is a PN local councillor in Attard