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6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 JULY 2025 OPINION & ANALYSIS JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Between second Adrian Delia offers a familiar face with unfinished business, but in the way criticism slides off him. The PN leadership race feels ADRIAN Delia may have en- tered the leadership race with a sense of entitlement—a belief that he is owed a second chance to reclaim the years he lost at the helm. But initial polls have sug- gested that rather than starting as the front runner, Delia is the underdog who needs to catch up and command attention. Tried, tested, and unfairly cast aside before even leading his party in a national election, De- lia now faces the uphill task of convincing a still-reluctant party that he has changed and matured from the infighting of the past. To succeed, he must win over those who once backed his removal without losing the trust of those who supported him in 2017 as an anti-establishment force. In this sense, Delia is not just running against Alex Borg, but against his own past. His profile has certainly grown since his leadership days, particu- larly due to his court victory on the Vitals hospitals deal. He re- mains a more passionate speaker than his rival, and arguably the better orator. But he lacks nov- elty. Delia may be seen as too familiar, too predictable—and in a general election context, too unlikely to strike fear in Labour's ranks. Alex Borg, on the other hand, has the one advantage Delia can- not replicate—he is unknown and untested. His mystery makes him a blank slate onto which members can project their hopes. So far, the party's archaic election rules have even denied members the chance to see him debate Delia. Ironically, this gives Borg, who is a less experienced debater, an advantage. Instead, the cam- paign has been reduced to private meetings, where the young con- tender is said to exude energy and enthusiasm behind closed doors. The age factor At just 30, Borg is eyeing the leadership of a major party, and potentially the premiership by age 32—an ambition that may seem reckless or even presump- tuous for some but courageous for others. Sure, there are very few inter- national parallels. One exception was Sebastian Kurz, the Austrian right-wing chancellor who took power at 31, only to lose it two years later after being swept by a corruption scandal. But unlike Borg, whose experi- ence is limited to the backbench, Kurz had already served as for- eign Minister at 27. The next youngest European leader was Sanna Marin, who became prime minister of Finland at 34 in 2019, and was elected leader of the So- cial Democratic Party the follow- ing year. The reality is that the age factor is bound to return to haunt Borg when facing the 47-year-old Ab- ela, whose political experience now includes leading the country through a pandemic and glob- al instability. But Borg's age has turned out to be less of a liabili- ty when facing the 55-year-old Delia whose experience as party leader is associated with party in- fighting. The curiosity factor Moreover, Borg carries far less baggage, and most important- ly, he benefits from what Delia lacks—the curiosity factor. His relative obscurity also makes him a more confusing opponent for Labour. He is less known, younger, and exudes the charm of someone who hasn't yet been bruised by the frontlines. He's already showing signs of being a 'Teflon' politician—smil- ing when cornered, dodging dif- ficult questions, and projecting himself as a politician destined Alex Borg Rebuilding trust in politics: Governance reform can't wait PN leadership candidate TRUST is the foundation of every successful country. Without it, even the best plans struggle. With it, a nation can move mountains. For too long, Malta's politics has been trapped in a cycle of tribal loyalty and short-term gain. We have built economic prosperity but lost something far more precious along the way—people's faith in how we govern, and in who governs. If we truly care about Malta's future, rebuilding trust is not optional. It is urgent. And it starts with the hard decisions that many have avoided. We must reform the way our parliament works. Today, Malta has one of the largest parliaments per capita in Eu- rope—79 MPs for a population of our size is excessive. Beyond the numbers, the structure is outdated. MPs are part-time lawmakers juggling private work and public responsibil- ities. This creates conflicts of interest, weakens focus, and dilutes accountability. We propose a smaller, more focused parliament of full-time MPs who are dedicated to pub- lic service. Politics should not be a side job. It should be a calling. Pub- lic trust will only return when people believe their represent- atives are there to serve the country first, not their private interests. We also need to reform how our elected officials are remu- nerated. The pay packets of MPs, ministers, and the prime minister should be reviewed transparently. Public service should be fairly compensated to attract talent, but it should never be a pathway to personal enrichment. But governance is also about regulators, the judiciary, en- forcement agencies, public ad- ministration; they all play a role in protecting what is right and preventing abuse. Too often, these institutions have been caught in political tug-of-war. Their leadership has been seen as rewards for loyalty rather than merit. Their independence questioned. Their effectiveness under- mined. We will rebuild these institu- tions with one clear rule—ap- pointments must be based on competence, integrity, and in- dependence, not political con- venience. Transparency must become the norm. We will open up Cabinet decisions, public ten- ders, and regulatory process- es to greater public scrutiny. Through open data platforms and digital government, cit- izens will be able to see how decisions are made and how funds are spent. These reforms are not about slogans. They are about chang- ing the culture of governance. A culture where public office is a responsibility, not a privilege. Where decisions are made in the open, not behind closed doors. Where the law protects the people, not the powerful. Vision 2050 recognised the need for institutional renewal. We agree. But Malta cannot af- ford incremental change. The damage done to public trust requires bold, credible leader- ship. This is not about blaming the past. It is about owning the future. We believe the Nation- alist Party is ready to lead this transformation. We will lead by example. By running an Opposition that is constructive. By making gov- ernance reform the first prior- ity, not the last. And by inviting all those who believe in Malta's future; across parties, profes- sions, and communities to be part of this work. Trust is earned, not inherited. And it is fragile. But we believe Malta can re- build it. We can restore faith in our democracy. This is how Malta will rise stronger; not only richer, but fairer, cleaner, and more unit- ed. And we are ready to lead the way.