PN leadership contender Alex Borg has vowed to create new internal roles specifically for young people within the Nationalist Party, saying the future of the party and the country depends on putting real power in their hands.

“If I’m trusted to lead, youths will not just be involved, but empowered as decision-makers,” Borg said during an interview on NET TV on Monday.

In his first televised appearance since announcing his candidacy for PN leader, Borg said that he wants to push inclusivity as the Nationalist Party’s ideological direction, promising a political style that is “progressive, open and based on national interest.”

Borg said the time had come for the PN to become a “credible alternative government” that reaches beyond its traditional base and offers a message of hope to disillusioned voters.

“Recent surveys and electoral results show a large faction of people have chosen not to vote. They have lost faith in politics, not just in the PL or the PN, but in the idea that politics can work for them,” Borg said.

“We need to listen to these people and show them that politics can be different. That starts with building a new mentality in the PN, generational change, yes, but also a change in how we work, how we deliver our message, and how we brand ourselves,” Borg said.

He described his vision for the PN as one grounded in “inclusion and modernity” without abandoning the party’s core principles.

“I want to see a party that always seeks common ground, where everyone feels welcomed, where different opinions can be expressed and debated, but where we move in one direction, in the interest of the people,” he said.

Borg, who was elected to Parliament at the age of 26, said his candidacy aims to rekindle enthusiasm among young people and individuals who no longer feel represented.

“I want to make the PN once again a natural home for those who have drifted away, both from the Labour Party and from the PN. If members place their trust in me, I believe we can be a unifying force, a voice for those who’ve felt politics left them behind,” Borg said.

Asked how he would engage voters under 16 and tackle political apathy among youths, Borg stressed that politicians were not all the same.

“There are good people in politics on both sides. We must encourage young people to believe in politics again and make them feel they are essential to the country’s future,” he said.

He pledged to open new internal roles specifically for youth participation and said he would launch a biennial convention to gather ideas directly from people across Malta and Gozo.

Borg was asked on what the PN would do to offer concrete proposals for the cost-of-living crisis, particularly for low-income families and those who cannot afford to buy property.

“We need to act. We have proposed tax incentives on properties in Urban Conservation Areas, and grants for renovation. There is much more we need to do, and the party will be putting forward new ideas in the coming months,” he said.

Tackling the ongoing population surge and its effects on infrastructure, Borg said mass transport solutions should be seriously considered if there is a political will, as mass transport exists in almost all countries.

Addressing internal criticism that the party lacks unity and has failed to communicate its message clearly, Borg spoke of the need for cohesion.

“Unity is vital. We are the only Opposition party and we must act like a united movement if we want to offer a credible alternative government,” he said, adding that he and Adrian Delia, his opponent in the race, would work “hand-in-hand” regardless of who wins.

He also said the PN must radically improve its use of social media to reach new audiences.

“We need to invest in our media. One of my first actions would be to restructure the party’s media team with a strategic focus on social platforms to ensure our message resonates beyond traditional channels, specifically for youths” he said.

Pressed on what kind of leadership style he would adopt, Borg said he wants to break away from a “Dar Ċentrali-only” model and take the party back to the streets.

“The most important quality in a leader today is accessibility. I want a leader who listens, not just in meetings, but by visiting people at home, engaging with communities, and understanding what really matters to them. If given the trust to become PN Leader, I will be out there from day one,” Borg said.

Asked why people should vote for him to become Prime Minister if Borg wins the PN leadership race, Borg said that he will make the means to ensure that the PN does win through its values, and with good will, the party can change its reputation and build on the country’s pediments.

“If I become Prime Minister, I will promise a better future with a complete team of MPs who have the country in their hearts, and are ready to lead it forward. We are capable of reaching this together,” Borg said.