PN Leader Alex Borg said that voters across Malta and Gozo are increasingly seeking "new breath" in politics and growing tired of being "taken for granted," as he accused Prime Minister Robert Abela of arrogance and fearmongering.

Addressing a mass rally in Siġġiewi on Sunday, Borg said that the election had been called early not because the country required it, but because the Prime Minister and those close to him feared losing power.

"This election was not called in the national interest. It was not called because the country needed it. It was called because Robert Abela needed it," Borg said.

He said that Labour had attempted to justify the election through references to international instability and uncertainty, while also trying to create fear among voters, but Borg said that the real reason behind the election was political survival.

"They tried to hide behind international instability. They tried to use fear. They tried to create a sense of urgency. But the truth is much simpler than that. This election was called because Robert Abela and those around him have too much to lose," Borg said.

Borg said that the Prime Minister had underestimated the electorate and believed the election would simply be a "formality".

"He took you for granted," Borg told supporters.

Borg said he was increasingly encountering lifelong Labour voters expressing frustration with the current administration and looking towards political change.

Recalling an encounter earlier on Sunday, Borg said a man had quietly approached him and told him: "I voted Labour all my life, but I will not vote Labour again. This country needs new breath."

"This is what is happening around Malta and Gozo. People are breathing again. People are hoping again. People are believing again," Borg said.

Borg spoke of the PN's slogan, "Nifs Ġdid," saying that Malta needs serious change in leadership while maintaining its identity and values.

He also used the speech to reiterate a number of proposals announced by the PN during recent days.

He referred to measures announced earlier on Sunday, aimed at strengthening family life, including six months of fully paid maternity leave, four weeks of fully paid paternity leave, 15 days of paid government-funded leave for parents when their children fall ill, and the extension of such new leave benefits to self-employed workers.

"This is what we mean when we say we want to improve quality of life," Borg said.

Borg also revisited the PN's already announced economic proposals, including investment in sectors such as AI, data and "newspace," the Mediterranean Maritime Fuel Hub proposal, and the planned PORT cultural district project in Marsa.

Borg said that these sectors were selected carefully because they would create economic growth without placing additional pressure on infrastructure, families or population growth.

"These are economic niches chosen carefully and with common sense," he said.

He said the ultimate goal of these sectors would be to combat the rising cost of living affecting Maltese and Gozitan families.

Borg also defended the PN's tax proposals, including a 30% average reduction in electricity bills, reductions in personal and corporate taxes, the removal of inheritance tax on causa mortis declarations, and the removal of taxes on property donations between parents, children and grandchildren.

Borg said that companies earning less than €2 million annually would see corporate tax reduced from 35% to 15%, while companies earning between €2 million and €10 million would see the rate reduced to 25%.

He also said that in the coming days, the PN will unveil its mass transport vision.

"These are reliable and costed measures. These are social justice and pro-business measures," Borg said.

Borg also attacked the Prime Minister's credibility, conduct and political approach throughout the campaign.

He accused Abela of reacting negatively to every PN proposal while refusing to offer meaningful solutions himself.

"We are offering proposals and Abela comes out attacking us. We offer solutions and Abela comes out against them. We are offering hope and Abela wants to keep the status quo," Borg said.

Borg also questioned a recent €4 million direct order awarded to engineering consultancy Arup for "transport advisory services," saying that the studies for the mass transport project should have long been done.

He said that the government had already spent years discussing mass transport systems and studies without producing concrete results.

"This Prime Minister is behaving as though the election is a formality and the vote belongs to him," Borg said.

He further accused Labour of repeatedly failing to honour major promises over the past 13 years, referring to the three hospitals, traffic solutions, tax reductions and the LNG tanker in Marsaxlokk.

"He promised new hospitals, millions disappeared and we were left with nothing. He promised to remove the LNG tanker from Marsaxlokk, and it remained there. He promised to solve traffic through the metro, and we were left with nothing," Borg said.

Borg also addressed allegations raised by Abela regarding the PN's proposed Mediterranean Maritime Fuel Hub project and his claims linking the proposal to a fuel smuggler.

Borg categorically denied ever meeting or having any connection with smugglers and challenged the Prime Minister to substantiate the allegation with police authorities.

"Immediately after the allegation emerged, I categorically denied ever meeting or having links with any smuggler connected to our project and I challenged Abela to substantiate his claims and go to the police. Since then, he has said nothing. He threw the stone and hid his hand," Borg said.

"Abela himself admitted that he met this alleged smuggler, that he was given a presentation, that he kept the presentation and discussed the project with him. Abela knows this alleged smuggler very well. He met him immediately, and did not report the person to the Police Commissioner," Borg said.

Borg said that this reflected a style of politics based on mud-slinging and intimidation which had alienated many people from politics altogether.

"I did not enter politics for mud-slinging politics. I entered politics to change this style, to implement, and to move forward," he said.

Borg appealed directly to undecided voters, non-voters and former Labour supporters, urging them to participate in the election.

"If you do not vote, everything stays the same," he said.

Addressing young voters specifically, Borg urged them not to use their first election to maintain what he described as an outdated political mentality.

"This is your first opportunity to have a voice in your country's future. Do not use it to keep an old mentality in government. Use it to give a fresh breath to Malta and Gozo," he said.

Borg portrayed the PN as political underdogs capable of winning if voters mobilise behind the party's message.

"Malta needs a new generation of politicians. Malta needs a new team. Malta needs new breath," Borg said.