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ALEX Perici Calascione greets me into his office with a smile as the country waits with bated breath for the prime minister to call the gener- al election. "We are prepared, we have been prepared since the local council and European elections. The elec- tion machine, as we Maltese like to say, was never turned off since," he tells me. Like everyone else operating within the political arena, he has been bombarded with predictions over a possible election date. "Yes, we have seen a lot of dates being thrown around. Listen, this happens during every election pe- riod, but one has to point out that if it is held now, it will be held very early," he says. "The PN is not re- acting to rumours, but observing its obligations in being prepared when it is eventually called." On financing, which has been an ongoing headache for consecutive PN administrations, he concedes problems remain, but says the par- ty is collecting more money during telethons and "being more intelli- gent in how it spends it." With a number of veteran MPs within the parliamentary group set to call it quits when the legislature comes to an end, Perici Calascione says they continue to contribute to the party's campaigning. He is convinced the party will be pre- senting a "healthy mix" of candi- dates for the election. He also insists the party is only focused on winning the election, and refuses to engage on other possibilities. Alex Perici Calascione: 'The election machine was never turned off' As election rumours continue to swirl, Nationalist Party Deputy Leader Alex Perici Calascione insists the party is prepared. He tells Karl Azzopardi there will be no knee-jerk reactions 4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 ARPIL 2026 INTERVIEW