Opposition Leader Alex Borg said that the Nationalist Party must prepare not to merely reduce the electoral gap, but to win the next general election, presenting itself in 2026 as a credible ‘government in waiting,’ and not just an ‘alternative’ government.

Borg was speaking on party media on Sunday, as he also invited all Maltese and Gozitans to participate in the ‘national convention’ the PN is holding in February to shape the long-term national vision for the country, with the public.

Borg said the event would not be held at the PN Headquarters, but at a private venue, and would be open to all Maltese and Gozitans, irrespective of political allegiance.

“This will not be a partisan convention. It will be a national one. Whether you support PN, Labour, or have no political interest at all, you will have the space to speak,” Borg said.

He said the convention would serve as the foundation for a five- and ten-year roadmap for Malta, with citizens’ contributions being consolidated with expert input, including economist George Vital Zammit.

“I do not see people as votes. I see individuals,” Borg said, adding that the aim was to transform citizens’ concerns, ambitions and ideas into a structured national vision.

Borg said the PN wants to be the people’s party, by actively listening to those who had felt excluded or disappointed by politics in recent years.

“People are thirsty for a government that offers opportunities which exploit people’s ability and ambition,” he said.

The convention, Borg said, would also strengthen the PN’s electoral readiness by reinforcing its identity as an alternative government, rather than simply an opposition party.

“We want to amalgamate people’s thoughts into a vision that belongs to Malta, not to a party,” he said.

The PN has already launched a second crowdfunding campaign to finance the upcoming national convention.

Borg said the campaign is intended to give Maltese and Gozitans a direct stake in the convention, which he described as a national event rather than a partisan one.

“Crowdfunding is a way of giving power back to the people. It allows citizens to feel part of the political process, not just spectators,” Borg said.

He recalled that the party’s first crowdfunding campaign raised €15,000 to finance Malta’s first political podcast, an initiative he said is coming out in the next few days and was later copied by the Labour Party.

The second campaign, he said, is aimed at ensuring that the national convention is organised independently of party structures and in a way that allows full freedom of expression.

“Our aim is to return hope, dignity and confidence to families, workers, young people and the elderly,” he said.

Reflecting on his first months as leader, Borg said the party had focused on fulfilling the commitments made during the leadership campaign, while also rebuilding internal morale.

“In these first months, we managed to reignite enthusiasm and momentum among our supporters. That is our greatest achievement - restoring hope,” he said.

He rejected the idea that the PN should aim merely to reduce the electoral gap.

“We are a party that brought independence, European membership and new economic sectors to Malta. Why should we enter an election to lose? We must enter to win,” Borg said.

Borg said the PN had begun restructuring internally, including the appointment of a party CEO to strengthen financial management and maximise the party’s asset portfolio, while safeguarding traditional band clubs linked to PN communities.

He said the party’s general secretariat and committees were also being strengthened to ensure inclusivity, including opening the door to former Labour voters and citizens who had felt alienated from politics.

Borg said 2026 could be a crucial year if Prime Minister Robert Abela were to call an early general election.

He said that leadership was not only about charisma but about being “a pair of safe hands” capable of offering economic stability, growth and peace of mind.

Asked to assess Robert Abela’s six years in office, Borg said no government does everything wrong or everything right, but Labour’s long-term failures were now evident.

He said Labour’s early economic model depended heavily on third-country nationals without parallel investment in infrastructure.

“Our population doubled, but infrastructure did not. Now we pay the price in traffic, hospitals and quality of life,” he said.

Borg cited long emergency department waiting times and daily congestion, noting that almost 60 new cars are added to Malta’s roads each day.

“The solution is not a €25,000 licence surrender scheme, reducing around 200 licenses a year yet 1,000 are issued yearly. The solution is a serious mass transport project that we can work together on, and that a future PN government can continue,” he said.

Borg accused Abela of prioritising political interest over moral responsibility in the Jean Paul Sofia case.

“When you stop seeing a person as flesh and blood and start seeing them as a vote, you lose political morality,” he said.

He also criticised the Prime Minister for having yet to consult the Opposition on key institutional appointments, such as the Chief Justice role, saying such positions should be decided in the national interest, not a partisan one.

On governance, Borg said the PN publishes its audited accounts and asset declarations annually, while the Prime Minister has yet to submit his leadership campaign accounts six years later.

He accused the government of squandering public funds, citing the Ta’ Qali €300,000 gravel purchase and the Vitals and Steward hospitals concession.

“With those millions, we could have been the best health hub in Europe,” he said.

Borg also criticised the removal of the obligation for ministers and MPs to declare assets and income.

“A Prime Minister who abolishes asset declarations is abolishing transparency,” he said.

He insisted that a future PN government would enforce full asset declarations as a cornerstone of public trust.

Borg said Malta must create new economic niches that leave more money in workers’ pockets, with potential in the blue economy and aviation, supported by targeted education and skills development.

On housing, Borg said affordability had become one of the greatest challenges facing young people and families.

He referred to a recent KPMG survey showing the average apartment price nearing €400,000, with penthouses exceeding €500,000, while rents continue to rise faster than wages.

Among PN proposals, he highlighted an equity-sharing model where the government would co-invest in properties with buyers, and incentives to bring vacant properties back into use.

He criticised what he described as political interference in housing projects and failures in social accommodation, including unsafe conditions in Birgu, in relation to Housing Minister Roderick Galdes.

“A PN government will guarantee dignified social accommodation,” he said.

Borg said Labour had failed Gozo through poor ferry investment and delays.

He criticised the leasing of second-hand vessels, saying they were costly, inaccessible and unsuitable for modern needs.

Borg said EU funds identified in a report commissioned by PN MEP Peter Agius could be used for new vessels and urged the government to act.

He also called for further investment in the Mgarr and Cirkewwa ports, improved maritime infrastructure for armed forces personnel, and greater respect for Gozo’s strategic importance.

“Gozitans should never be treated as second-class citizens,” he said, adding that the island would benefit from having a Gozitan Prime Minister who understands its realities first-hand.