Starved of direction and success, the PN had little left to believe in, except the possibility that Roberta Metsola might eventually come back. A symbol of competence, stature and strategic clarity, she was seen as someone whose return could change the PN’s fortunes.

The unofficial plan was straightforward enough. Bernard Grech would stay on as a caretaker, steering the party through the fog until Metsola was ready to descend from Brussels and take over. It was a timeline that suited her, one that would allow her to wrap up her mandate in Europe, return at a time of her choosing and avoid any messy internal contests. It was also a plan that gave everyone something to cling to — a source of order, a future, a leader-in-waiting.

But that plan is now in pieces. Metsola is out. Grech is gone. And what was once the party’s clearest path forward has morphed into an unstructured free-for-all. In his absence, Adrian Delia — a man who had not even been part of the original picture — was suddenly seen as the most useful short-term option: someone familiar, resilient and willing to carry the can ahead of an election the PN is almost certain to lose. It also allowed the party to heal the scars left from his being unceremoniously taken out as leader first time round. But even that is now in flux. With Delia reportedly reconsidering his own bid, and Alex Borg currently the only declared candidate, the PN’s succession plan lies in tatters. In its place: backroom tension, factional recalibrations and a party that, once again, is trying to stitch together a future from mismatched parts.

From Plan A to No Plan

Let us start with what was clearly Plan A. Metsola would return, with Bernard Grech holding the fort until the timing was right. She had the stature, the strategic discipline and the polls on her side. It was a plan that echoed the argument made in these pages only weeks ago: that the PN needed to buy time, avoid another rushed internal contest and make way for a figure around whom real consensus could form.

On paper, it was a plan that made everyone happy. A seamless transition. A dignified comeback. A symbolic reset. But in practice, it was a non-starter — politically muddled, potentially confusing to voters and an easy target for Labour. Metsola hesitated. She cited the international situation, the importance of her role, the need to remain in Brussels. All of it may be true. But to many within the party, it felt like a letdown — particularly because she had, reportedly, played a role in convincing Grech to stay on just a week earlier.

A week before Grech’s resignation, rumours had begun to circulate that he was about to step down. They were quickly dismissed, but credible reports suggest that Metsola had reassured him — or at least hinted — that she would be ready to step in soon. If that’s true, then his eventual resignation, just days later and following yet another devastating survey, takes on a far more chaotic tone. Was it strategic? Emotional? Miscommunicated? No one seems to know. But whatever understanding may have existed, it evaporated fast.

The Contenders Step Forward

Suddenly, the plan everyone had banked on no longer existed. The party wasn’t just adrift — it was exposed. And into this void stepped Alex Borg. The 28-year-old MP from Gozo, with a carefully managed digital presence and a growing hold on the party’s more disillusioned voters, quickly became the name on everyone’s lips. Not because he declared, but because, in the absence of any real plan, people turned to him. He was young, organised and already had a base.

By this point, Delia’s name had already re-entered the conversation. It felt, briefly, like the two of them could work together. A new face and an old one. One with momentum, the other with experience. A balancing act that, for a short while, seemed to hold promise. But if rumours are to be believed, even that possibility fell apart quickly.

Then came the Facebook post. Georg Sapiano, a longtime business partner and Delia associate, effectively accused Borg of reneging on an agreement not to contest. It was framed like a political mystery — who moved first? Who broke the deal? — but the message was unmistakable: someone had betrayed someone.

Borg’s response suggested something was up. He avoided confirming or denying the existence of any pact, and simply said his campaign would remain positive. It wasn’t a denial. It was a signal, one that hinted at deeper fault lines beginning to show.

Whatever understanding may once have existed now appears to have crumbled. If Delia steps back, as reports indicate, Borg will almost certainly go unchallenged. He already commands a sizeable share of the base, and many of Delia’s supporters would likely fall in line. But if Delia decides to stay in, the race could become a bruising fight. And if more names enter the fray, the contest becomes even more unpredictable.

The Prodigal Son

Then there’s Franco Debono. While Delia has been on a redemption arc, Debono remains a wildcard. Brilliant, argumentative, obsessive — he is the kind of political mind that can dominate a room or derail a strategy, depending on the mood.

In many ways, Debono has occupied a similar symbolic role to Metsola — a figure many disillusioned Nationalists have looked to in times of frustration. He is a household name, politically experienced and has managed to remain relevant without holding office. Like Metsola, he also has a thriving career and a role that gives him weight. That means, for him too, timing and viability matter far more than for others.

Debono has long hovered at the party’s edges, his name whispered every time the leadership flounders. But his return to PN headquarters last week suggests a more active role is now in play. Whether he contests or merely positions himself to influence the race is unclear. But his presence is telling. It is a reminder that, for all its talk of renewal and unity, the PN still has unresolved ghosts haunting the halls.

What makes Debono interesting is that he’s bold. He has confidence in his ideas, takes positions and knows how to defend them — often persuasively. He’s also uniquely placed to speak about governance without being dismissed. While the PN has spent the past decade hammering Labour over rule of law concerns, only to be reminded of its own track record, Debono stands apart. He was pushing for reform when the PN was still in government. He can’t be neutralised by a simple ‘where were you then?’ retort.

That makes him dangerous, and useful.

The Establishment’s Dilemma

For years, Metsola was their unspoken choice — a unifying figure who did the party proud, who stayed above the mutinies against Delia, at least in public, and who managed to retain credibility across the PN’s many factions. She also kept a visible presence in Malta, regularly meeting business leaders and constituents. Crucially, she never burned any bridges. She knew she might want to come back.

But now she’s out, and the traditional power brokers find themselves having to choose from a list of names they likely see as imperfect. Delia, their one-time nemesis, may now be their best option. The irony writes itself.

In recent weeks, the pivot has been swift. David Griscti, one of Delia’s fiercest critics, has publicly recanted. The Shift News, a publication born out of a movement that once demanded his removal, now appears almost supportive.

It’s possible Delia has struck a deal: support me now, and I’ll step aside when the time is right. Maybe for Metsola. Maybe not. Either way, he is suddenly back in the room — and that, on its own, is a dramatic shift.

Looking Ahead

The next few days will be decisive. If Delia drops out and Borg runs unopposed, the race may be short-lived. But it could also be transformative. For the first time in years, the PN might have a leader chosen not through compromise or choreography, but through momentum.

If Borg wins, he will have a mandate and the energy to reshape the party in his image. Whether that image resonates with the electorate is another question. His youth, his populist messaging and his ability to communicate will help him reach new audiences. But it could just as easily deepen internal divides.

But there’s another possibility, one that until recently would have been unthinkable. That Borg, Delia and Debono — each once painted as a divisive outsider — may now be the only ones capable of working together. If they do, if they’re allowed to, the PN might finally begin to move forward in earnest. Not by erasing the past, but by acknowledging it.

Of course, there’s every chance that this moment passes, and the party simply finds a way to expand its faction count by three.

Either way, the succession plan failed. And now, the power games are not just beginning — they’re in full swing.