Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg has said the PN faces the challenge of rebuilding trust among voters following its latest general election defeat, arguing that the party's renewal will take time as it seeks to convince both former supporters and thousands of people who chose not to vote.
During an interview on party media Sunday, Borg acknowledged that the electorate has not yet been fully convinced that the PN is ready to govern, saying this reality was reflected in the outcome of the last general election.
Borg said he is asking PN councillors to trust the process and avoid restarting from scratch, instead continuing to build on the renewal project launched in recent months.
Borg also said the party must now focus its efforts on understanding and reaching those sections of the electorate that remain unconvinced, while also making a concerted effort to engage with the estimated 50,000 eligible voters who abstained from casting a ballot.
He described the process as only the beginning of a broader journey for the party.
"This is still the beginning, and a lot is to come," Borg said, insisting that the Nationalist Party has embarked on a long-term strategy aimed at rebuilding its organisation, broadening its appeal and presenting itself as a credible alternative government.
Emphasising that change would not happen overnight, Borg said the PN's recovery should be viewed as "a marathon, not a sprint".
He said that time was not working against the party and expressed confidence that, over the next five years, the Nationalist Party would continue strengthening its structures and organisation in preparation for the next general election.
Borg said the PN has already started presenting itself as an alternative government, adding that it intends to demonstrate not only what it would do differently but also to fulfil the role of a responsible opposition.
He said this includes closely scrutinising the government's performance and ensuring that the promises it has made are translated into concrete action.
"We need to be vigilant that what the government has promised, it delivers," Borg said, stressing that holding the government accountable is a key responsibility of the Opposition.
The PN leader also highlighted voter participation as one of the biggest issues facing Maltese democracy, saying that one of the party's main tests in the coming years will be convincing people who stayed away from the polls to re-engage with the political process.
Borg said that abstention should not be viewed simply as a statistic but as a signal that many people feel disconnected from politics.
He said the Nationalist Party has a responsibility to understand why these voters chose not to participate and to demonstrate that their concerns are being heard.
"I believe that politics is the key to the future, and people participating in elections is crucial," he said.
He added that the PN must convince people that voting gives them the power to shape the country's future, urging citizens not to allow others to make decisions on their behalf by choosing not to cast their vote.
According to Borg, rebuilding confidence among undecided voters and re-engaging those who abstained will be central to the Nationalist Party's efforts as it seeks to position itself as a viable alternative government ahead of the next general election.