Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg said the resignation of former minister Roderick Galdes came only after weeks of pressure and warned that the Labour government’s handling of the affair was damaging Malta’s reputation abroad, as he delivered his closing speech at the PN’s General Council in Gozo on Sunday.
Borg said the government had chosen to defend Galdes rather than act in the national interest, arguing that accountability in public office had been reduced to political damage control. He said repeated scandals were changing how Malta is perceived internationally and stressed that standards in public life should not be optional. The resignation, he added, should have happened earlier to allow Galdes to clear his name without the government placing party loyalty above the country’s interests.
He linked the issue to wider policy failures, including the housing crisis and rising living costs, accusing Prime Minister Robert Abela of being out of touch with the realities faced by young people. Borg dismissed claims that most under-35s own their homes, saying many remain unable to afford property and are forced to continue living with their parents due to escalating prices.
Addressing delegates in a party General Council for the first time as party leader, Borg described the island as central to the Nationalist Party’s identity and criticised what he said were years of broken government promises. He pointed to continued delays to the long-promised Marsalforn breakwaters project, noting that despite consultations taking place in 2021, no masterplan has yet been published and businesses continue to suffer damage each time severe weather hits the area.
Borg also criticised ongoing problems with Gozo Channel services, recounting the case of a nurse who spent 19 hours travelling to and from a single work shift due to ferry delays. He said repeated government excuses had failed to address the problem and argued that a Nationalist government would already have introduced additional vessels to ensure reliable connectivity between Malta and Gozo.
Turning to the recent Storm Harry, Borg thanked emergency services, educators and Gozo Channel workers for maintaining essential services during difficult conditions. He called on the government to assist families and businesses affected by storm damage without excessive bureaucracy and urged authorities to take preventative measures rather than responding only after disasters occur.
He also addressed the recent controversy at utility provider ARMS Ltd, saying that tens of thousands of accounts were affected by billing discrepancies despite government claims that only a small number of customers were involved. Borg credited Nationalist Party representatives with exposing the issue and said affected consumers should be fully reimbursed.
On healthcare, Borg cited EU data showing Maltese residents among the highest spenders on medicines, linking this to persistent shortages of government-formulary drugs. He said the situation disproportionately affects elderly and vulnerable people, arguing that access to essential medication should be guaranteed in a country that claims to prioritise quality of life.
Borg said the General Council approved five key motions reflecting the PN’s political vision, including improving quality of life, ensuring prosperity reaches all citizens, strengthening communities and restoring respect in government. While acknowledging recent surveys suggesting growing support for the party, he cautioned that the PN remains the underdog and warned that the government would do everything possible to retain power.
He concluded by saying the Nationalist Party was a living and active movement built on grassroots support rather than institutional control, presenting it as an alternative capable of offering Maltese and Gozitans a renewed sense of direction, stability and opportunity.
The General Council in Gozo also featured speeches by Lara Agius, Mark Anthony Sammut, Ryan Cachia, Jean Paul Barbara, PN Secretary General Charles Bonello, PN Deputy Leader Alex Perici Calascione, Eve Borg Bonello, and other party representatives and MPs.