Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1541988
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 DECEMBER 2025 NEWS The next 365 days: Alex Alex Borg has clocked 100 days at the helm of the Nationalist Party. Kurt Sansone gets into the PN IT'S been a great year for me. Win- ning the Nationalist Party leadership race was a dream come true, even if it was a close call with just 44 votes sep- arating Adrian and myself. Nonetheless, given that I was con- testing against a former leader, who many felt still had unfinished busi- ness, it was a great result. But as you know, the more difficult work came afterwards. Trying to heal past and fresh wounds, patch up differences between people in the party, while instilling a new sense of hope in PN supporters, was tough. But the wave of enthusiasm my victory generated from several likely and unlikely quar- ters helped smoothen things. I greatly appreciated President Myr- iam Spiteri Debono's words that my call for national unity was music to her ears, when I took my oath of of- fice as Opposition leader. I'm sure her words bothered those who tried to belittle me because of my age. Admit- tedly, I've made a few slip-ups along the way such as forgetting that Nerik Mizzi, one of the PN's founders, had contested the Gozo district as leader. Sarah's indiscretion when she for- got to renew her car insurance and licence was potentially damaging but she handled it well by being upfront about the matter and apologising publicly. The incident helped us real- ise what we signed up for when I con- tested the leadership—the role comes with increased personal scrutiny. And I say 'we', because Sarah has been an integral cog in the machine, not only offering emotional support but also by providing practical assistance while I discharge my political functions. She is a people's person in her own right. I've tried to leave my mark on the party and the political scene in these first 100 days. I wanted to show that the PN is back in business, willing to set the national agenda while listening to people and opening its arms to all those of goodwill who wish to contrib- ute. The appointment of Sabine as the party's first CEO is part of my resolve to get the party's finances in order. This remains crucial, even for our credibility. The rapprochement with Edwin Vassallo may have irked those who are socially liberal but it also helped mark that the PN is a broad church. For years, people like Edwin, who are religiously conservative at heart and whose natural home was always the PN, may have felt estranged in a new world. But in a party that has always cherished dialogue, I believe there is space for an exchange between peo- ple like Edwin and others who want a more secular country that embraces civil rights. Admittedly, bridging the gap be- tween the two is not an easy task and my personal views oscillate between the two. But singular people do not single-handedly make party policy. It's the collective that counts and the different voices can help draft a mid- dle ground that is comfortable to the widest possible section of society—at least that is what I would like to see. During these first 100 days I've found people willing to close an eye to my mistakes, giving me the chance to prove myself over time. I know this goodwill won't last for ever and peo- ple will be expecting more substance to understand how their lives could be better if they decide to trust the PN with their vote in the next general election. People need to have certain- ty that the good things happening in their life will not be disrupted, while hoping that their concerns and aspira- tions can be addressed. I believe I kicked off on a good note with my budget reaction. I still need to improve in my delivery but the budget reaction included 50 proposals that showed the PN is preparing itself to govern. The flagship proposal—the in- troduction of a child trust fund—was not only spelt out but also explained with an accompanying document that showed its benefits and cost. This is the way forward to convince an elec- torate that has grown increasingly sceptical of politicians. I also reached out to the prime min- ister, offering to sit down with him and sign a memorandum of under- standing on a mass transport system. Whether it's an underground metro, or a mix between underground and above ground, a tram, or a mixture of everything, we all know that it will