Letters to the editor – May 13, 2026

The PN’s two manifestos

Eddy Privitera of Naxxar writes:

One can easily get the impression that the Nationalist Party (PN) has two electoral manifestos. The official one prepared by Alex Borg and the PN. And the unofficial manifesto concocted by Adrian Delia.

While Borg is saying a PN government will keep the energy subsidies to retain the present stability of prices Delia says a PN government would lower the present energy prices. Delia wants voters to believe that what Borg promises, he can do better. It seems Delia has won this round by persuading Borg to now say that energy prices will be reduced by 30 per cent.

That PN leadership race result still haunts Delia.

Of course, both Borg and Delia have the luxury of being able to promise anything to everybody. They know, just as Lawrence Gonzi did before them in 2013, Simon Busuttil in 2017 and Bernard Grech in 2022, they would be suffering a substantial electoral defeat. 

So they also know they will not be held accountable for any wild and irresponsible electoral pledge they make.

Prime Minister Robert Abela, left, and Opposition leader Alex Borg. Photos: Times of Malta

So when you hear Borg or Delia make some new fantastic promise, rest assured that what both the former and the present leader have in mind is to try and narrow the election result gap as much as possible.

I cannot end this letter without referring to Borg’s incredible decision not to allow both independent journalists as well as One journalists to interview him while visiting a commercial entity. 

How is it possible that a leader of the opposition, during an election campaign and aspiring to win the election make such political mistakes?

It has been evident for quite some time that Borg is very uncomfortable when facing journalists who do not belong to the PN’s media organisation. 

His disastrous interview in Jon Mallia’s Il-Każin podcast must have persuaded him to avoid independent journalists as much as possible.

On the other side of the political ring, we see a prime minister inviting all journalists, including PN ones, to ask him as many questions as they wish. 

And answering each question in a confident and clear way. While Robert Abela oozes confidence, Borg radiates insecurity and vacillation. So the choice voters have to make is between Abela and Borg.

Abela faced the following challenges and succeeded in overcoming them: COVID-19, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, 

Israel’s attack on Gaza and the US war with Iran, which spread all over the Gulf states with the resultant hike in fuel prices worldwide except in Malta.

The sole challenges Borg has had to face in his life to date, and won, were at a beauty contest and the race for the PN leadership, winning it by a mere 44 votes.