Alex Borg addresses his first mass meeting as party leader

Updated: 10.08pm

Two weeks after being elected Nationalist Party leader by the narrowest margin, Alex Borg fronted his first mass meeting in his new role, declaring that he has “no enemies”.

Addressing a capacity crowd at Triton Square in Valletta at the culmination of the party’s Independence Day celebrations on Saturday evening, Borg delivered an impassioned speech insisting on a message of “unity”.

“I declare that I have no enemies. The enemies are those who do not love the country,” Borg told the enthusiastic crowd.

As he walked on stage, accompanied by his partner Sarah Bajada, Borg stopped to warmly embrace his leadership rival Adrian Delia and later made it a point to insist the former party leader would still have a key role within the party, reinforcing his message of unity.

“I am certain that in the coming months and years, Adrian Delia will be a pillar of the PN,” Borg said.

PN leader Alex Borg said former leader Adrian Delia will be a "pillar" of the party in future. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

The youngest ever political leader started his keynote address by paying tribute to two statesmen to whom the party owe their vision: Gorg Borg Olivier “the father of independent Malta” and Eddie Fenech Adami “the father of European Malta”, a statement which was met with chants of “Eddie, Eddie” recalling the halcyon days of the party.

“This is the legacy of the Nationalist Party,” Borg said, before urging the party to look ahead and not lock itself in its “glorious past”. 

He continued that the party will soon be issuing its proposals proving it can be an alternative government.

He said the party will propose how to improve the quality of life in Malta offering solutions on the public transport system, digital systems to reduce traffic congestion, housing affordability for first-time buyers, shift healthcare to prevention, create incentives for businesses to attract quality tourists and employment and reduce the impact of inflation on families.

Elected just two weeks ago as Malta's youngest ever party leader, Alex Borg was a hit with the crowds on Saturday. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

And, the party leader, who hails from Gozo, insisted the PN “will make Gozo a priority”.

“We want long-term economic growth that leaves more money in people’s pockets, growth that strengthens quality of life. I will not base my politics on simply opposing the government, but on leading better than the current government,” Borg said.

He added the environment should also be a priority and insisted he will ask for the introduction of a private members bill so that the environment becomes a constitutional right. Two years ago the PN had launched a public consultation ahead of moving a bill to introduce the right to the environment as an enforceable human right in the constitution.

"It's been ages since I last saw such an enthusiastic crowd. Today you have left me speechless," Alex Borg told those gathered in Triton Square on Saturday. Photo: PN

Reflecting on his first day in parliament as party leader where he forced an urgent debate on the Fortina land deal, he stated this was the “PN’s first victory under my leadership”.

Borg also made reference to an interview he gave recently, where he said Malta should review the local plans and introduce a skyline policy. He slammed government ministers who criticised him for proposing this and accused him of being “hellbent on building towers in Gozo”.

“I will continue defending Gozo and will not allow anyone to abuse it because Gozo has a character and identity of its own,” Borg said.

He ended his speech with a defiant message of victory. “People have been asking me are we going to win? And I answer with just one word: yes”.  

In a social media post ahead of the speech, European Parliament president Roberta Metsola said "we can offer a better future for the people of Malta and Gozo". 

PN deputy leader Alex Perici Calascione and general secretary Charles Bonello addressed the capacity crowd before Borg's speech.

In recent days, Borg has already used the pre-Independence Day events to reveal four key appointments within the PN including chief executive Sabine Agius Cabourdin and Simon Mizzi as the Chairman for Leadership Delivery, a new role that will serve to keep the Opposition leader “on track” with delivering on promises.

Neither Agius Cabourdin nor Mizzi will be getting paid for their work within the PN.

Munxar mayor Damien Spiteri has been appointed the PN leader's head of secretariat while Simon Vella Gregory will serve as campaign manager.

Speaking two days after his election as Opposition leader, Borg revealed he planned to carry out a small reshuffle of the shadow cabinet to introduce changes such as responsibility for artificial intelligence and matters such as solitude which should be treated separately from mental health. He has also pledged to appoint a minister dedicated to sports if elected.

Earlier this week he announced he will be setting up a Youth Think Tank.

In an interview with Times of Malta, Borg insisted he was confident of clinching victory at the general election within a year. The youngest political party leader ever believes he is bringing "a generational change to the party [which] could win us the election".