Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1539534
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 17 SEPTEMBER 2025 NEWS Chris Deguara and Daniel Micallef discuss challenges facing new PN leader Alex Borg THE Nationalist Party has en- tered a new chapter with Alex Borg taking over the leadership after a tense and tightly fought contest that was decided by just 44 votes. The leadership campaign spanned almost two months, and now people are looking to see what change Borg has to offer. Chris Deguara, a PN mayor, and Labour's former deputy leader Daniel Micallef, were in- terviewed about this on TVM's Xtra, where the two discussed Borg's first week in office. "During the campaign we heard various proposals, but now is the time to move forward and start working," Deguara said. Micallef echoed this senti- ment, but pointed out a gap between rhetoric and reality: "There is an element of repe- tition, but also shifts because once you're in leadership, the situations you face are differ- ent." One issue continues to loom over the PN: its financial cri- sis. Leaders, from Adrian Delia to Bernard Grech, have high- lighted it, yet solutions remain scarce. Micallef was critical of Borg's early handling of the matter: "If you hold a meeting on party fi- nances but then say you haven't met the CFO to know the debt figure, questions arise. Better to admit you're not ready to speak about the debt than to give that kind of answer." Deguara acknowledged that while finances are crucial for campaigning, the PN's main challenge lies elsewhere: "Ulti- mately, what convinces people is policies and direction. The PN has to show it has credible alternatives, not only a balanced ledger." The leadership election itself exposed weaknesses in party organisation and communica- tion. While journalists worked through the night to report on the results, official information from PN channels was scarce. Micallef described the night as a "blackout", contrasting it with Labour's leadership contest in 2020: "There, the public had live updates. At PN headquarters, the lack of transparency only created uncertainty and fueled speculation." Chris agreed: "Even if the race was close, indications should have been shared. Keeping members and supporters in the dark only increased tensions." The 44-vote margin has al- ready been used by Labour to highlight divisions within the PN. Borg, however, has argued that it shows the strong backing of both candidates. Deguara leaned toward that interpretation: "Both candi- dates had value for the party. A close result doesn't mean lack of unity but rather the depth of support across the member- ship." Still, Micallef warned that the slim margin puts greater pres- sure on Borg to unify the party and secure Adrian Delia's sup- porters moving forward. Questions also surfaced about Roberta Metsola's influence, given how her political presence was sometimes seen as a chal- lenge to Bernard Grech. Mi- callef suggested this may be less of an issue now: "She has already pronounced herself, so it could be less problematic. What in- terests me more are the hidden dynamics that shaped the lead- ership contest. It began with ac- cusations of betrayal, and then suddenly Delia showed interest before Borg eventually entered the race." Another debate is whether Borg is borrowing from Joseph Muscat's political playbook. "For me it's clear that Borg studied Muscat's speeches," Mi- callef said. "He changed some terms: from 'movement' to 'al- liance,' from 'winning genera- tion' to 'generational change.' But I don't see a full parallel." Deguara dismissed direct comparisons: "Every lead- er must be judged in his own context. If Borg can get people on board with his vision, then that's already an achievement, regardless of who he may have studied." Another major challenge for Borg is the economy, long con- sidered Labour's strongest card. While the PN argues that the country's economic founda- tions were laid under its own governments, critics say the party has failed to articulate a forward-looking vision. Deguara acknowledged this gap. "The PN must work hard to show direction. People want solutions for real problems like traffic and quality of life, not just references to past success- es." Micallef added: "Labour inher- ited a stagnant economy in 2013 and set it in motion. Credibility and talent are key. The PN lost much of both." Deguara argued that Borg's success will depend on "keeping his feet on the ground and sur- rounding himself with capable people." For Labour, meanwhile, Mi- callef stressed the importance of staying focused: "The PL must continue setting its own agen- da, renewing itself, and nev- er allowing complacency. The rhythm must keep increasing." JAELLE BORG jborg@mediatoday.com.mt Former Labour deputy leader Daniel Micallef (left) and PN Naxxar mayor Chris Deguara were interviewed on Xtra by Karl Azzopardi (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday) Motorcycle passenger seriously injured in St Paul's Bay crash A woman was seriously injured on Monday evening after the motorcycle she was riding on lost control and crashed in St Paul's Bay. Police said the accident oc- curred at around 7.30 pm on Triq San Pawl. A 44-year-old German man, who resides in St Julian's, was riding a Voge300Rally motorcycle when he lost control of the ve- hicle and fell. A 44-year-old Japanese wom- an from Birkirkara was riding as a passenger. Both individu- als received medical assistance at the scene, and the woman was later taken to Mater Dei Hospital by ambulance. Doc- tors certified her injuries as serious. The motorcyclist was also treated but his condition was not specified. Police investigations are on- going. A woman was seriously injured on Monday evening when the motorcycle she was riding pillion crashed in St Paul's Bay