“No Ideas, No Competence, No Vision, Divided”: Robert Abela in First Address After Alex Borg’s PN Leadership Win

Prime Minister Robert Abela gave his first public address on Sunday morning, just hours after Alex Borg was confirmed as the new leader of the Nationalist Party. Borg, 30, won a dramatic contest with 8,905 votes against Adrian Delia’s 8,861—a razor-thin margin of just 44 votes—making him the youngest-ever leader of a major political party in Malta.

In his speech, Abela emphasised the importance of humility in leadership, noting that great responsibility requires remaining grounded, particularly when navigating the chaos created by others. He criticised the Opposition, describing the PN as “lacking ideas, lacking competence, split down the middle and lacking vision,” highlighting the contrast between the Government taking major decisions and an Opposition without clear positions on key issues.

Abela also provided updates on forthcoming projects, including the National Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (NPICU) and the Convention Centre, underlining the Government’s commitment to delivering significant developments for Malta.

On policy matters, the Prime Minister announced a pilot scheme introducing extensive no-smoking zones on beaches, with smoking permitted only in restricted areas.

The initiative will initially cover one beach in Malta and one in Gozo, though specific sites and timelines have yet to be confirmed.

Turning to environmental management, Abela praised Tourism Minister Ian Borg for measures in Comino, which successfully reduced visitor numbers to the Blue Lagoon this summer. He stressed that sustainable management can achieve real results, demonstrating that careful planning benefits both the environment and the local economy.

#MaltaDaily