Alex Borg urges PN MPs to stay close to people as new parliamentary group meets

During the Nationalist Party parliamentary group’s first meeting, leader Alex Borg urged PN MPs to remain close to the people every day, not only on the eve of an election.

Borg also announced on Tuesday that MP Ivan Castillo has been appointed Whip of the PN parliamentary group.

As part of a restructuring of the group’s operations, two deputy whips and a secretary to the parliamentary group will be appointed for the first time in the coming days.

Tuesday’s meeting followed the conclusion of the casual elections held to fill parliamentary seats vacated by candidates elected on two districts, as well as the implementation of the gender balance mechanism.

The PN parliamentary group includes 13 new MPs and 12 women, four of whom are entering parliament for the first time. Borg said the group’s mix of experienced politicians and new faces would bring fresh energy, reflecting the party’s ongoing renewal as it seeks to become the opposition the country needs.

The PN will have a parliamentary group of 37 members, while the Labour Party will have 42 MPs.

The new parliamentary group will be sworn in on 20 June during the first sitting of the legislature, while the PN General Council will meet on 24 June to confirm the appointment of the next PN leader.