Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg has pledged to lead a "serious, credible and vigilant" Opposition, saying that the PN will hold government accountable, and position itself as a credible alternative government for Malta's future.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Borg said the electorate had spoken through its vote and that its decision must be respected. However, he said that respecting the people's choice did not mean remaining silent.

"The people have made their choice and we respect it, but respect for that choice does not mean being silent. It means carrying out our duty with the greatest seriousness and integrity," he said.

Borg said the PN would scrutinise government decisions, demand accountability and insist on transparency, while supporting measures that genuinely benefit Maltese and Gozitan families.

"The PN will be a serious, credible and above all vigilant Opposition. An Opposition that carries out scrutiny, demands accountability, insists on transparency and places the interests of Maltese and Gozitan people before everything else," he said.

He said that a healthy democracy requires more than a governing majority, saying it also depends on a strong Opposition, functioning checks and balances and a Parliament that is respected.

"A strong democracy does not exist through government alone, it requires a majority that governs, but also a parliamentary minority that questions, proposes and presents alternatives," Borg said.

The Opposition Leader warned that people would no longer judge politicians on speeches, promises or plans outlined on paper, but on the tangible results they experience in their daily lives.

"The people will not judge the Government on words written on paper. They will judge it on the results they feel in the coming days," he said.

Referring to the challenges facing families, Borg said households struggling with the rising costs of food, rent and medicines wanted peace of mind rather than political rhetoric.

He added that young people need real solutions to enter the property market, pensioners deserved dignity and meaningful support, and workers expected an economy that provided better wages, quality of life and more time with their families.

He also highlighted the concerns of businesses seeking certainty and stability to continue investing and growing.

Borg said the Opposition would assess every government decision against a simple principle: whether it places the interests of the people first.

"Where the government introduces a good measure for families, businesses and democracy, we will be constructive, but where transparency is lacking, information is hidden or public money is spent without accountability, we will hold government responsible," he said.

A significant part of Borg's speech focused on accountability, transparency and the role of democratic institutions. He insisted that public finances, public land, institutions and power belong to the people rather than the government of the day.

"When we speak about accountability, we are not doing so to impress anyone. It is a basic democratic principle. Those who hold power must account for how that power is used," Borg said.

He warned that governments which fear transparency risk losing the trust of the public.

"A government that fears transparency is a government that has something to hide," Borg declared.

The PN leader also criticised what he described as evasive replies to parliamentary questions and said the Opposition would not accept a culture in which Parliament is reduced to merely endorsing decisions already taken elsewhere.

Borg said that rebuilding public trust in politics would be one of the greatest challenges facing the country, saying many people had lost faith because they felt politics no longer listened to them.

He pledged that the PN would not be a passive or reactive Opposition but would begin acting as an alternative government immediately through proposals, research and continuous engagement with communities.

He said the party would remain present among workers, businesses, organisations, farmers, fishermen, professionals, young people, pensioners and families across Malta and Gozo.

Concluding his address, Borg described the legislature as a test not only for government but also for the Opposition, Parliament and Maltese democracy itself.

He reaffirmed the PN's commitment to defending the common good, strengthening accountability and transparency, and building a responsible alternative for the country.

"A serious Opposition today, means a strong government tomorrow," Borg said.