24 hours later Alex Borg still in shadow cabinet reshuffle talks with MPs

Updated 1.30pm Sunday

Discussions over Alex Borg's new shadow cabinet were ongoing on Sunday morning, over 24 hours after the new PN leader began calling in his MPs to re-assign party roles.

Sources said Borg already met with former leader Adrian Delia, who was seen walking out of the PN headquarters at around 11.20am on Saturday.

Throughout the rest of the day, PN MPs, including Joe Giglio, Mario De Marco and Claudette Buttigieg, made their way to Dar Ċentrali. All were tight-lipped on what was discussed with Borg, telling reporters they preferred to let the party make the official announcement.

Late on Saturday, sources said Borg was still in meetings with MPs and there was no indication when the new shadow cabinet would be announced. It is understood that Borg has spoken to all his MPs on an individual basis. 

Party officials told Times of Malta that a statement will be issued when Borg is done with all meetings. It remains unclear whether that will also be the announcement of the full and final list of new portfolios.

Borg announced plans for a "small reshuffle" shortly after he snatched the PN's leadership seat three weeks ago, saying he wanted to introduce roles to tackle modern realities like artificial intelligence and social isolation.

But the 30-year-old has, since then, kept his cards close to his chest, refusing to reveal what roles he intends to give his MPs, especially his two predecessors, Adrian Delia and Bernard Grech. Instead, he told journalists both have a “role to play” in the party. 

One other thing to look out for is the Gozo portfolio. Borg was appointed Gozo shadow minister by his predecessor. Will he retain that role?

Members of the shadow cabinet on Saturday: (L-R)Home Affairs shadow minister Darren Carabott, Infrastructure Shadow Minister Joe Giglio, and Ryan Callus, Shadow minister for Energy and Innovation. Photos: Chris Sant Fournier

Shadow ministers, also referred to as ‘spokespersons’, are opposition MPs who are assigned to closely scrutinise and examine the work of government ministers in different sectors.

Saturday's reshuffle will not be Borg's first spate of appointments. Earlier this month Sabine Agius Cabourdin was appointed the party’s new CEO, tasked with running the party’s business interests, managing its properties and reviving the party’s ailing finances.

The Opposition leader also revealed that engineer Simon Mizzi will serve as the chairperson of the Delivery Office, a new office that will serve to keep “the leader on track” with delivering on promises.

Former PN communications coordinator Simon Vella Gregory was appointed campaign manager and Borg’s head of secretariat is now Munxar mayor and auditor Damien Spiteri.

Bernard Grech had reconfigured his shadow cabinet in January last year, when he assigned Delia the health portfolio and promoted Darren Carabott to home affairs spokesperson. 

More PN MPs entering PN headquarters on Saturday. (L-R): Claudette Buttigieg, shadow minister for Public broadcasting, Eve Borg Bonello shadow minister for Climate Change and Mario De Marco, shadow minister for Tourism. Photos: Chris Sant Fournier

2025: a year of reshuffles

Borg is not the first to conduct a reshuffle this year. Robert Abela performed a minor shake-up in his cabinet in May.

Culture Minister Owen Bonnici was handed the responsibility for the Lands Authority, while former Lands Minister, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, was shifted to the newly created position of Minister for EU Funds. Junior Minister Andy Ellul assumed responsibility for the competition regulator, the MCCAA. 

Rumours around that reshuffle had it that Byron Camilleri was prepared to relinquish his role as Home Affairs minister to focus on the other part of his portfolio - employment. But in the end he came out of the reshuffle with a new responsibility for the National Development and Social Fund (NDSF).