Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg on Sunday announced his new Shadow Cabinet, with several changes which see prominent MPs such as Adrian Delia, Karol Aquilina, and Chris Said all get new portfolios, and a new portfolio for Borg’s predecessor Bernard Grech.

The announcement came over 24 hours after the process for the building of the new Shadow Cabinet kicked off on Saturday morning.

In a statement, the PN said that the Shadow Cabinet “is designed to present itself as an alternative government ready to lead our country towards a better future.”

“This is not just about assigning responsibilities to our MPs. It is clear proof that Partit Nazzjonalista is ready to provide serious, responsible, and visionary leadership, giving the Maltese and Gozitan people the best choice,” Alex Borg said during the presentation.

One of the headline changes concerns Adrian Delia, who lost the PN leadership election by just 44 votes to Borg.  He had pledged to work closely with the new leadership, but has since ruled out that he would contest the Deputy Leadership position which Borg is set to create within the party statute.

He was the Shadow Minister for Health, having been appointed as such in January 2024 by Borg’s predecessor Bernard Grech after leading the case against the Vitals hospital concession, but will now serve as Shadow Minister for Finance.

Taking on the health portfolio will be doctor Stephen Spiteri, who was previously in charge of social policy.  Delia moving to Finance has meant that Graham Bencini – who had the portfolio before – has been given the Social Security and EU Funds portfolio instead. 

David Agius will remain Deputy Speaker and will continue to shadow sports, but has had European Funds replaced with Volunteering within his portfolio.

Karol Aquilina was Shadow Minister for Justice, but will now shadow “Public Administration and Efficiency in the Public Sector” instead, with Joe Giglio being handed the Justice portfolio instead.

Borg’s predecessor Bernard Grech will now be the Shadow Minister for Capital Projects and Infrastructure – the portfolio previously held by Joe Giglio.

Gozitan MP Chris Said has been handed Alex Borg’s old portfolio of Shadow Minister for Gozo, while Toni Bezzina has had Transport added to his portfolio of agriculture and fisheries.

Transport used to be in the hands of Mark Anthony Sammut, who has now instead been given the Energy and Water Conservation portfolio – a portfolio which was in the hands of Ryan Callus, who in turn will now shadow Social Dialogue and Trade Promotion.

There have been some new topics added to the PN’s shadow portfolios which were not specified in previous titles.

Ivan Bartolo has had ‘Solitude’ added to his portfolio of Affordable Housing and the Fight Against Poverty, while Ian Vassallo has had ‘Preventine Care’ added to his portfolio of primary care.  Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici has also had ‘National Identity and Intercultural Dialogue’ added to his portfolio of Constitutional Reform.

“Through these appointments, the PN is sending a clear message: it is ready to provide a new direction for the country, placing citizens’ priorities at the forefront – a strong economy, a fairer society, a sustainable environment, and serious, transparent institutions,” Borg said.

“This alternative Cabinet proves that the PN is not only criticising but also presenting concrete solutions to the major challenges the country is facing. We are ready to be the natural choice to lead the Maltese and Gozitan people towards a better future,” Alex Borg concluded.

Alex Borg’s full Shadow Cabinet can be found below:

Alex Borg: Leader of the Opposition

David Agius: Deputy Speaker and Shadow Minister for Sport and Volunteering

Robert Cutajar: Whip, Secretary of the Parliamentary Group, and Shadow Minister for the Self-Employed, Small Businesses and Cooperatives

Paula Mifsud Bonnici: Assistant Whip and Shadow Minister for Active Ageing

Darren Carabott: Chairperson of the PAC and Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and Security

Janice Abela Chetcuti: Shadow Minister for Animal Welfare

Karol Aquilina: Shadow Minister for Public Administration and Efficiency in the Public Sector

Graziella Attard Previ: Shadow Minister for Equality, Civil Liberties and Public Broadcasting

Charles Azzopardi: Shadow Minister for National Heritage and Hobbies

Ivan Bartolo: Shadow Minister for Social and Affordable Housing, the Fight Against Poverty, and Solitude

Ivan J Bartolo: Shadow Minister for Innovation and Artificial Intelligence

Graham Bencini: Shadow Minister for Social Security and EU Funds

Toni Bezzina: Shadow Minister for Transport, Agriculture and Fisheries

Bernice Bonello: Shadow Minister for Youth and Local Government

Eve Borg Bonello: Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Public Cleanliness

Rebekah Borg: Shadow Minister for the Environment

Albert Buttigieg: Shadow Minister for Neurodivergence and Child Protection

Claudette Buttigieg: Shadow Minister for Research and Development

Ryan Callus: Shadow Minister for Social Dialogue and Trade Promotion

Jerome Caruana Cilia: Shadow Minister for the Economy and Enterprise

Ivan Castillo: Shadow Minister for Employment, the Maritime Sector and Aviation

Mario de Marco: Shadow Minister for Tourism

Adrian Delia: Shadow Minister for Finance

Beppe Fenech Adami: Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs

Graziella Galea: Shadow Minister for Inclusion and Consumer Rights

Joe Giglio: Shadow Minister for Justice

Bernard Grech: Shadow Minister for Capital Projects and Infrastructure

Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici: Shadow Minister for Constitutional Reform, National Identity and Intercultural Dialogue

Chris Said: Shadow Minister for Gozo

Mark Anthony Sammut: Shadow Minister for Energy and Water Conservation

Justin Schembri: Shadow Minister for Education

Stephen Spiteri: Shadow Minister for Health

Ian Vassallo: Shadow Minister for Preventive and Primary Care

Julie Zahra: Shadow Minister for Culture and the Creative Economy

Stanley Zammit: Shadow Minister for Planning and Lands