During his time as leader, Grech faced the daunting task of rebuilding public trust in a party that had been bruised by infighting and a string of electoral defeats. He led the PN into three nationwide elections, including the 2022 general election, which ended in a landslide victory for Labour with a gap of over 39,000 votes.

Under his watch, the PN also contested the 2024 local council and European Parliament elections. While the party managed to retain its two MEP seats and registered some gains in certain localities, it struggled to make a breakthrough or present itself as a government-in-waiting. Grech often focused on issues of governance, accountability and the rule of law, areas where the PN found resonance, especially in the wake of repeated corruption scandals. However, his leadership failed to inspire a wider shift in public sentiment or deliver a vision that could cut across Malta’s political divide.

Despite early efforts to present a refreshed image and tone, Grech was often accused of lacking the energy and political instinct needed to take on a formidable Labour Party machine. His personal trust ratings rarely surpassed those of Prime Minister Robert Abela, and over time, internal discontent began to simmer, particularly as Labour appeared to recover in the polls after a dip in late 2023.

The latest survey results appear to have sealed his fate. Although similar rumours had surfaced just over a week ago and were swiftly denied by Grech at the time, calls for change have grown louder in recent days. His resignation now sets the stage for a leadership race that could redefine the future of the Nationalist Party and determine who will lead it into the next general election.

As the party grapples with another transition, questions remain about whether it can reinvent itself in time, or whether it will continue to be haunted by the same divisions and strategic misfires that have plagued it for over a decade.