PN support growing despite election defeat, Alex Borg says

Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg said the PN’s gain of more than 13,000 votes, coupled with a surge in post-election volunteers, showed that support for the party was growing despite its defeat.

The PN increased its vote in every district across Malta and Gozo, with its largest gain recorded in Gozo, where it picked up almost 3,000 votes.

Borg said the nationwide increase showed that the reduced gap was not simply the result of Labour voters staying home, but of more people actively choosing to vote for the PN.

He said what gave him the most hope was the response in the hours after the result, when hundreds of people contacted him to offer their support and help the party. Two online calls for volunteers and campaign feedback later drew more than 1,000 responses each, Borg said.

Following the constructive feedback, Borg promised that the PN will work to improve its internal organisation and maintain closer contact with voters throughout the legislature.

He said the party would now assess the result in detail, including why between 40,000 and 50,000 people chose not to vote, especially as it begins preparing for the MEP elections.

Borg said he had put himself forward to continue leading the PN, with party members now set to decide whether they wanted the party to remain on its current path. If confirmed as leader, he said he would focus on strengthening the party’s internal structures and expanding its media presence.

Borg said a draft shadow cabinet has already been prepared and will be finalised once the casual elections are concluded. He said the full line-up, combining younger figures with experienced politicians, would be announced that same day or, at the latest, the following day.

Defending his decision to retain his Gozo seat, Borg rejected claims that he had breached the party’s statute by giving up the 12 district. He said he had been advised that, as party leader, he was entitled to choose which district to retain.

Borg concluded that he would continue strengthening the party’s position in Gozo while remaining committed to voters in the 12 district.