Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1541988
cost billions of euros to implement. We also know that any such infra- structure will cut across different ad- ministrations to be completed. We also know that to ensure via- bility, people have to be enticed to use it. These are difficult decisions to make as politi- cians, which is why they have always been postponed. It is within this context that I offered Robert Abela the hand of friendship to ensure cross-party support for a mass trans- port system, irrespective of whoever the people choose to govern the coun- try in the next election. This is the way forward on issues of national concern and I only hope my supporters see this as magnanimity and not weakness. As for Robert, we have several things in common, not least our love for the gym and main- taining good physical health. He tried to play catch-up on a few occasions but some- times, I feel the prime minister displays a sense of superiority towards me, probably be- cause of my young age. I may lack the political experience Robert and others on both sides of the House have but it would be a mistake to underestimate my ability to listen, learn and take ad- vice. My strength is connecting with people, something which I feel is cru- cial if the PN is to become a people's party once again. And then there are those MaltaTo- day surveys that have given us cause for hope lately. They are positive but the truth is we still trail the Labour Party. I am not happy coming second, even if we manage to cut the gap be- tween the parties substantially in the next election. I want to win. It's a diffi- cult task but not impossible and that is what I am trying to convince Nation- alists of. My leadership has instilled a positive vibe and I'd like to keep it this way. Overall, 2025 has turned out pretty fine but it's the new year that now beckons. The new year will be the one that makes me or breaks me— and consequently the party—which is why I have prepared this wish list for Christmas. 1. Peace I wish for peace in the world, espe- cially in Ukraine and the Middle East. But I also wish for peace on the home front. I would like to see renewed uni- ty among PN MPs and functionaries because it is only a united party that can attract voters to us. 2. Sarah I wish she will remember to pay her car insurance and licence to avoid em- barrassment that could be more dam- aging next time around. 3. Donors We need money—lots of it, actu- ally—to survive and be competitive as a party. What I ask is for donors to come forward, hopefully with no strings attached. 4. A finance guru Don't get me wrong; Adrian and Jerome are fine, intelligent guys. But they are not economists and are no match for Clyde Caruana. I need someone of stature from outside the party who is willing to cross the Rubi- con and become a politician and give Clyde a run for his money while con- vincing people the country could have a safe pair of hands on its financial rudder with the PN in government. 5. Adrian Delia I wish Adrian would not use his Facebook to make poetic statements that impinge on other spokespersons' portfolios. He is an asset to the party, a fine speaker, affable and wise but he also needs to become more of a team player. 6. Middle class Ivan, Charles, Albert and others have their heart in the right place when they focus on poverty and the down- trodden. But it's also about time the PN re-appropriates the world 'mid- dle class' and speak about the aspira- tions, concerns and hopes of this large swathe of voters, who are not poor or broken but can be under pressure. I wish we can all understand, myself in- cluded, that the middle class is key to winning the election. 7. Repubblika I wish we could have a mutually re- spectful relationship that recognises our different roles and hope they do not invent some embarrassing protest outside parliament banging on pots and pans. 8. Jason Azzopardi I wish Jason would stop trying to outwit and outperform journalists in uncovering facts whenever a govern- ment scandal of sorts crops up. His speculative banter on Facebook is at times error-prone and definitely unhelpful because it gives Labour a cause célèbre to hit back at us, even if we have nothing to do with him. 9. Deputy leader I want to fulfil my pledge to create the role of deputy leader for parlia- mentary affairs but I wish this to be an anointment of someone who un- derstands my youthful approach, is moderate and a good communicator. Basically, I wish Darren Carabott to be deputy leader. 10. The young My Instagram has 33k followers and has been very busy since becoming leader—the busiest for any PN leader so far, I dare say. I just wish that the young who interact with me on social media will eventually translate this enthusiasm into votes when the big day comes. 7 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 DECEMBER 2025 NEWS Alex Borg's letter to Santa PN leader's shoes and drafts what he believes Alex's letter to Father Christmas would look like.