Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1542275
12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 DECEMBER 2025 Alex Borg: Enthusiasm surges Alex Borg's first 100 days as Opposition leader have been marked by something the Nationalist Party has not experienced in over a decade—a surge in enthusiasm among supporters and a perceptible closing of the trust deficit with the Labour leader ALEX Borg defied gloomy pre- dictions after the Nationalist Party was left in the cold by Roberta Metsola, who refused to be arm-twisted by Bernard Grech's sudden resignation. Instead, the PN ended up with a leader whose novice charm has left Labour Party strategists scrambling. While Metsola carried gravitas and Adrian Delia had more expe- rience, Borg's strength lies in being harder to pin down. Early signs suggest he has galvanised PN activists and voters—a necessary first step for any leader aspiring to be prime minister, even if he still needs to make significant in- roads among Labour voters and non-voters. But Borg did manage to chip away at Robert Abela's lead on the MaltaToday trust barom- eter. The November survey showed Abela ahead by around 10 points—a solid lead but sig- nificantly narrower than the 16- to 30-point gulf that exist- ed when Grech and Delia were leaders. The main reason is that while Borg is trusted by 87% of PN voters, Grech was consistently trusted by less than 60%. The figures point towards consoli- dation among PN voters. Baptism of fire Borg survived a government budget framed as generous, targeted, and socially expan- sive. The administration hyped new benefits to reinforce its narrative of stability and con- tinuity. Yet Borg's ratings re- mained steady despite a reply that was sometimes stiff and lacklustre. While he still lacks Abela's forcefulness, he held his ground under pressure. Key to Borg's upward trajec- tory is his lack of political bag- gage, a Teflon-like resistance to attacks, and the charm of youth. Attempts to belittle him have tended to boomerang, in much the same way Labour's young leader Joseph Muscat benefited from dismissive at- tacks that amplified his relata- bility back in 2008. But Borg's most significant accomplishment is emotional. He has reignited enthusiasm in a party that had resigned it- self to permanent opposition. Although a PN victory in 2027 remains improbable, it can no longer be dismissed outright. Borg has repeatedly insisted that his objective is winning, not merely reducing Labour's margin. For a demoralised party, that psychological shift matters. Yet the calendar may not be his friend. A long campaign stretching to spring 2027 car- ries clear risks. He may lose the sense of freshness that currently insulates him, while Labour gains more time to test his gravitas, pushing him into deeper policy terrain where his inexperience is harder to mask. Not speaking like a prime minister Borg's vulnerabilities are al- ready visible. His tendency to shoot from the hip has gener- ated avoidable missteps—sug- gesting branded medicines are superior to generics, or casu- ally invoking "suldati tal-az- zar" without appreciating the historical weight the phrase carries. Such errors feed into the narrative that Borg lacks depth and does not yet "speak prime minister". Borg's shadow cabinet re- mains weak in key areas, espe- cially finance and the economy. Having Adrian Delia—a former rival who can go rogue—as the main spokesperson compli- cates his ability to project a co- herent vision. Voters may ask: Can I trust this young leader with the economy? For Borg, the solution is to recruit a sen- ior, reputable economist to re- store confidence in the party's ability to govern. Another structural weakness is Borg's narrow victory over Delia, who remains highly vis- ible and continues shaping the party's message. Delia's focus on population anxieties—par- ticularly his refrain that for- eigners are outnumbering Mal- tese in some localities—risks deepening a divide between JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Alex Borg addressing a training camp titled Future Leaders, organised by the PN's offshoot AZAD with partner Sarah Bajada looking Young PN supporters at a mass rally to celebrate Alex Borg's first 100 days as party leader (Photo: PN) LOOKING BACK 2025