New MP Beppe Galea lobbying for Gozo shadow minister role
PN international secretary has no plans to contest MEP election in three years’ time
First-time Nationalist Party MP Beppe Galea is lobbying for the Gozo shadow portfolio, Times of Malta is informed.
The young Gozitan politician garnered one of the two parliamentary seats the PN managed to win in the Gozo district, with party leader Alex Borg getting the other seat.
Another Gozo candidate, Frank Tabone, was elected through the mechanism that ensures proportionality of seats between the two parties in parliament.
“Besides Alex, only Beppe managed to surpass the electoral quota in Gozo. That fact alone makes him a favourite for the role,” sources close to the PN told Times of Malta.
“But it’s not just Beppe. I’m sure Frank and Norma Camilleri, who is set to be elected via the gender corrective mechanism, want that role. As a general rule, Gozitan politicians always have the Gozo portfolio as their first choice,” another said.
Sources also said Galea dedicated much of his electoral strategy to appearing as a close ally of PN leader Borg, a tactic that might help the newly elected MP get the portfolio he wants.
Besides Alex, only Beppe managed to surpass the electoral quota in Gozo. That fact alone makes him a favourite for the role- Sources
Contacted for comment, Galea said he was proud of the number of votes he received. “I am determined to speak out in parliament over issues that affect the daily lives of Gozitans throughout the legislature,” he said.
Asked if that meant he wanted the Gozo portfolio, Galea said the decision was the prerogative of the PN leader.
“We will have to wait until he announces his shadow cabinet. Other people also have to be elected, so we will wait for that process as well,” he said.
Galea, who is also the PN’s international secretary, dismissed rumours that he is planning an electoral run for the European Parliament in three years’ time.
“I intend to work very hard in that campaign to find the best possible candidates for the role and for the PN to have the best results in the election, particularly in Gozo. However, I will not be putting my name forward for the EP elections,” he said.
Former PN leader Bernard Grech gave the Gozo shadow portfolio to Alex Borg just after the 2022 general election. He took the portfolio over from the more experienced Chris Said until September 2025. After winning the PN leadership election, Borg handed back the shadow ministry to Said.