In Defence Of Alex Borg: PN Really Needs A Winner
I don’t think it’s a surprise that Alex Borg collected significantly more endorsements from PN members than Adrian Delia.
Borg has come under media criticism for a lack of clear policies and concrete political commitments, in sharp contrast to Delia, who has proposed everything from massive afforestation projects and rotating wind farms to fall detectors in elderly homes.
To be fair, Delia has already exceeded expectations. Many people expected him to drop out of the race the moment Borg announced his intention to contest, but he has fought on, turning the election into an actual race rather than a coronation.
However, the criticism of Borg misses one crucial point. PN supporters are tired of repeated defeats and the 30-year-old Gozitan candidate offers the appeal of something new and refreshing.
His electoral track record is extremely promising.
In 2022, Borg racked up more votes than any PN candidate apart from leader Bernard Grech and Joe Giglio – and unlike Giglio, Borg only ran in one district (Gozo).
Surveys have shown that, despite the PN’s serious struggles and Robert Abela’s appointment of three Gozitan ministers, the PN has maintained a lead in Gozo.
This is no joke, and speaks to Borg’s appeal among the electorate.
Delia is loyal, experienced, passionate and policy-driven but he has one major flaw in this race – he has been there before and, for a number of reasons, it didn’t work out in the only election he was allowed to contest.
You can’t blame PN supporters if they decide to take a risk and try out their most promising, young politician rather than return to the past.
Of course, presuming he wins, Borg’s real challenge will come after the leadership election.
With the general election approaching, he will have little time to tackle the PN’s biggest challenge: presenting a compelling vision for Malta that appeals to voters and clearly distinguishes the party from the PL.
But you can’t underestimate the power of political enthusiasm. Suppose Borg manages to use his platform to inspire a wave of national interest in the PN. In that case, more people will want to associate themselves with the party, new policy ideas will be taken on board, and the electorate will listen to what the PN has to say.
The PN has long been stuck in stasis, giving the impression that of a party so afraid of igniting controversy that it avoids taking the lead.
Supporters are hungry for the party to feel alive again, and Borg’s supporters are betting on his fresh energy to spark new ideas and a vision that actually excites voters.
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