Leader of the Opposition Alex Borg delivered a forceful critique in Parliament today, arguing that the government’s 2025 Budget fails to address Malta’s most urgent challenges despite being promoted as “the best budget in history”.

Borg said he had genuinely hoped for a financial package that would “bear fruit and confront the problems faced by all Maltese and Gozitans”, but insisted that once the political celebration faded, the everyday realities faced by the public remained unchanged.

He pointed to a MaltaToday survey in which half of respondents said the Budget had no impact on their lives, using this to counter the government’s claims of achievement. Rising prices, worsening traffic, population pressures, environmental decline, and a healthcare sector hampered by endless waiting lists were among the key issues he argued remained unaddressed.

Borg also focused heavily on the recent international arbitration ruling linked to the former Vitals-Steward hospitals concession. He criticised the government for celebrating the outcome prematurely, noting that the tribunal later confirmed there was “no clear winner” and that the Maltese and Gozitan people were the greatest victims.

He warned that the government had “tried to make a fool of the Maltese people”, especially after it emerged that Vitals and Steward had received around €900 million, while Malta must now pay an additional €5 million.

He questioned why the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction with a ruling that confirmed the public had suffered the most and accused the government of defending the concessionaires rather than protecting the national interest.

The Opposition Leader then outlined elements of the Nationalist Party 50 proposals, presenting them as a credible and forward-looking alternative. These include a new Gozo hospital, a new general hospital in Malta, a modern mental health facility, strengthened palliative care, and a full overhaul of procurement processes to ensure more medicines and equipment reach public hospitals. Borg said the PN aims to eliminate waiting lists altogether, reduce reliance on cheap labour, and diversify the economy by investing in sectors such as aviation, maritime industries, and the creative economy. He also highlighted proposals for a nationwide restoration programme to improve the environment, the creation of an effective mass transport system, continued energy subsidies, digitalisation of Gozo’s court documentation, more social housing, and greater support for single parents and young people.

One of the PN’s key measures, Borg said, is the AIC Child Trust Fund, under which parents would receive €5,000 for every child they have. The funds would be released to the child at age 20 and could be used to build a stronger future through education, housing, or career progression. Borg described the measure as a structured investment in Malta’s long-term wellbeing and a commitment to giving future generations a better start in life.

He also highlighted a series of employment and fiscal reforms, including the removal of tax on the first €10,000 earned from overtime and part-time work, the introduction of a pilot project for a four-day work week, expanded teleworking and flexible-hour options, and stronger enforcement of equal pay for equal work. Workplace childcare facilities, he said, should become the norm. These proposals, he argued, are designed to support families, strengthen the workforce, and give people more dignity and balance in their lives.

Borg concluded that the Maltese public’s message is clear: they want a better quality of life, not just financial measures. “Yes, money is important,” he said, “but quality of life is important too.”

He described the PN’s proposals as the beginning of a new chapter and emphasised that an alternative government must “think with heart, plan with foresight, and work for a future built on quality”. He ended by reaffirming his belief that Malta can achieve far better, stating, “Our vision is clear — we want the very best for the people of Malta and Gozo.”