AŻAD has an important role to play and, for this reason, the Nationalist Party will continue supporting it as it strengthens its work in education, research, political training and public dialogue, leader Alex Borg said Wednesday.
Given its role in strengthening democracy and helping shape our country's future, we also want to see AŻAD take on a more ambitious role, with active participation across the Euro-Mediterranean region.
Borg was speaking during a commemorative evening held yesterday to mark the 50th anniversary of AŻAD's establishment. The event was held at San Anton Palace under the patronage of Her Excellency Myriam Spiteri Debono, President of Malta.
A PN statement said that in a welcome message, the President said that a society founded on democratic values cannot remain strong and sustainable unless it is continuously nurtured within a democratic environment built on discernment, freedom of thought and, above all, critical analysis - qualities that every citizen should have the opportunity to develop and refine.
In this context, the President recalled the vision of AŻAD's first President, President Emeritus Ċensu Tabone, who envisaged AŻAD as an academy providing training so that Malta would have women and men capable of serving as civic guardians of our society's democratic development. While praising AŻAD's contribution in this regard, she expressed the hope that it would continue strengthening its commitment to fostering a democratic environment in Malta.
In his address during the evening, PN Leader Alex Borg said that a strong democracy requires informed citizens, trained leaders and institutions that continually evolve. He stressed that AŻAD should be more than an institution that reflects on the past; it should also help shape the future.
In this context, Alex Borg announced three new AŻAD initiatives: strategic work on the future of the European People's Party (EPP) family for the 2026-2031 period; research into the experience of Christian Democracy in the EU's smallest Member States; and a discussion on Europe's strategic position in a changing world.
The PN Leader also emphasised the importance of investing in people, including through programmes such as Future Leaders, with the support of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, which for many years has demonstrated a concrete commitment to the development of new political leaders in Malta. He also referred to training for local councillors and initiatives aimed at encouraging more young people and women to take an active role in public life.
Alex Borg said that Malta should use its geographical position at the heart of the Mediterranean as an opportunity to serve as a bridge between Europe and the Mediterranean, while also making a stronger contribution to the European debate.
He thanked everyone who has contributed to AŻAD over the past 50 years and expressed the hope that AŻAD will continue to serve as a space for knowledge, dialogue and the development of a new generation of leaders.
In a brief address, PN Deputy Leader Alex Perici Calascione said that the mission for which AŻAD was established in 1976 - to safeguard democracy through respect for freedoms, pluralism, the rule of law and the independence of institutions - remains relevant to this day and has, in fact, become more relevant than ever. He said that trust in institutions is not built through words, but through a genuine commitment, demonstrated in practice, to a democratic country. In this context, the 50th anniversary of AŻAD's establishment should not merely be a celebration of the past, but also a call to the future and a reflection on the kind of democracy we want to leave to future generations.
PN Secretary General Charles Bonello said that these 50 years represent far more than an anniversary - they tell a story of commitment, education, training and, above all, a strong belief in democracy. He said that, for AŻAD, political education has never simply meant teaching politics. Rather, it has always been, and remains, a means of developing more informed citizens and more responsible, values-driven leaders, for whom politics means giving everything without expecting anything in return. Charles Bonello said that AŻAD's greatest legacy lies in the people it has helped form, and that its 50th anniversary should mark the beginning of a new chapter in which AŻAD continues to place Malta at the heart of the European debate on the future of democracy and the Mediterranean, security, the evolution of the European Union and the strengthening of Malta's place in a changing Europe.
A message was also delivered by AŻAD Chief Executive Officer Roderick Agius, who described the anniversary as marking 50 years of belief in people, in politics as a form of service, and in education as a foundation for good leadership. The AŻAD CEO said that this mission is being carried forward through concrete investment in people by means of AŻAD's various training programmes and initiatives, which help individuals become not only better politicians, but also better citizens and leaders. He also referred to AŻAD's European and international outlook, supported by active collaboration with organisations such as the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the EPP's Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, which are assisting AŻAD in providing opportunities for political training, public life and youth development.
Following three further brief addresses by young people Nicole Portelli, Luke Vella and Kirsty Micallef, commemorative gifts were presented at the end of the evening to the Presidents and Administrators who have served AŻAD throughout the 50 years since its establishment.
10.09.2026