The whistle has barely stopped ringing in our ears, and the country is already in full on election mode. Overkill, some might say, in terms of wall to wall (literally) marketing from certain quarters. Arrogance? Perhaps, but such is the way things are done to show one's absolute and undisputed prowess at the expected polls.

These opening days of this electoral campaign have displayed in the starkest of ways, what we have known for 13 years now. How Labour runs a gargantuan promotion machine that was only rearing to spring into action the second Robert Abela called it. The millionaire campaign, in fact, is absolutely in everyone's face, weather you like it or not, on every street, in every corner, in every aspect of our lives.

On the other hand, the Nationalist Party, even though it is taking on the absolute Goliath that is the Labour government, with all the tax-paid resources it has at its disposal, has chosen to stick to substance, and offer a new way of doing politics.

In fact, the Opposition has immediately started to address the issues that matter to the Maltese families most and proposing policy about them. Healthcare, infrastructure, economic resilience, quality of life. Rather than building an enormous campaign and then trying to fill it with proposals, the PN has chosen to structure its electoral standing on realistic and costed policy proposals, which form the heart of its campaign.

And perhaps this strategy shows a crucial difference that exists between the PN and the PL. It suggests a party that is not simply reacting to the timing of an election but actually leading the agenda.

This is only possible because the Nationalist Party, led by Alex Borg is reflecting the ambitions and aspirations of the Maltese and Gozitan families. The Nationalist Party is aware of the difficulties that our families face every day, the challenges they have to overcome and the things that need to be addressed.

The message of the PN rings true and resonates with the electorate because it is. While the campaigning of Government is completely detached. In fact, some people are finding it rather offensive for the Labour party to try to pull the wool over everyone's eyes and paint a perfect picture.

Of course, that government registered its successes which need to be acknowledged, but it also failed miserably in certain areas which cannot be ignored. On these fields, the government is completely silent.

I have also noticed a conscious effort from the Nationalist Party to ensure that its politics is never confrontational, opting for a constructive and collaborative approach at all times. This does not mean that criticism cannot be levelled where it is due. But it does mean placing greater emphasis on solutions than on slogans. On direction rather than division. This is greatly welcome, and it also shows the difference between the two parties.

Beyond strategy and structure, elections ultimately come down to the proposals that the parties can propose to the electorate. The policy that will make a difference in the lives of our electorate.

In the weeks ahead, the challenge for the PN will be to sustain this momentum. To continue building on substance, while ensuring that its message reaches as widely as possible. To remain focused not on matching pace, but on maintaining this honesty.

Because elections are not about who speaks first. They are about who makes sense in the end.