PN Leader Alex Borg Calls For More Government Transparency

Partit Nazzjonalista Leader and Leader of the Opposition Alex Borg said Prime Minister Robert Abela has a duty to be honest with the public, arguing that this was "not the first time" the Prime Minister had failed to tell the truth.

Speaking during an interview with Newsbook Malta Editor Matthew Xuereb as part of the PN's 2026 Independence celebrations, Borg referred to recent comments by Malta Chamber President William Spiteri Bailey, who urged the Prime Minister to tell the public the full truth about the country's economy and public finances.

Borg also cited recent incidents which he said undermined the Prime Minister's credibility, including Abela's claim that he had spoken to the Caruana Galizia family, which Borg noted was publicly contradicted by Matthew Caruana Galizia. He also referred to Abela's previous statement that 90% of people under the age of 35 own their home, which Borg said had been shown to be incorrect by a fact-check.

Discussing comments made by former Chief Justice Vincent De Gaetano, Borg claimed the allegations reinforced the PN's long-standing position that the Government had interfered with Malta's institutions and the course of justice. He also argued that the Government had created what he described as a culture of impunity, adding that recent developments had further damaged public confidence.

Borg said this was why the PN had continued to push for the implementation of all the recommendations made by the Daphne Caruana Galizia Public Inquiry. He noted that after the Government rejected the PN's motion to urgently debate the recommendations in Parliament, the party presented an Omnibus Bill which, according to the PN, would strengthen institutions, safeguard their independence, rebuild public trust and provide greater protection for journalists.

The PN leader added that his party would continue applying pressure until those recommendations are implemented. He also argued that the lack of justice in the Daphne Caruana Galizia case continued to damage Malta's reputation and criticised the Attorney General's performance, claiming she had failed to act adequately in several cases.

On other issues, Borg said the Government had failed to properly plan for population growth, arguing that infrastructure such as roads, hospitals, the electricity network and the sewage system were struggling to cope with increasing demand. He also called for a shift from quantity to quality in tourism, greater investment in niche sectors such as religious and gastronomic tourism, and tougher penalties for tourists who behave irresponsibly.

Borg also announced that the PN had registered a €100,000 surplus for the first time in many years and said the party's electoral campaign had not left it with any debt. He added that the PN expects to appoint a Deputy Leader for Parliamentary Affairs and a Deputy Leader for Party Affairs by the end of the year, while work on reforming the party's statute and basic principles continues. He also said the party is preparing its Budget proposals through consultations with social partners and wants to broaden the way Malta measures economic performance beyond GDP alone.