Alex Borg announces new shadow cabinet

Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg has unveiled his shadow cabinet, appointing a team of 28 shadow ministers and eight spokespersons as part of his bid to present the PN as a government-in-waiting.

The announcement saw a number of MPs retaining the same roles they had before the election, like Adrian Delia who retains finance, new roles for MPs like Darren Carabott who has been handed the economy and strategic projects portfolio, and new roles all together like the quality of life portfolio handed to Ian Vassallo Hagi.

Borg will serve as Leader of the Opposition, while Deputy Leader Alex Perici Calascione has been appointed shadow minister for tourism.

Former PN leader Bernard Grech has been named shadow minister for European funds, social dialogue and consumer protection, while Ivan Castillo will continue as Whip and assume responsibility for sustainable mobility.

Among the key appointments, Adrian Delia will serve as shadow minister for finance, Joe Giglio will oversee justice, research and innovation, Stephen Spiteri will take on the health portfolio, Darren Carabott will be responsible for the economy, technology and strategic projects, and Beppe Fenech Adami will cover foreign and European affairs.

Jerome Caruana Cilia has been appointed shadow minister for education and citizenship, Mark Anthony Sammut will oversee energy and the environment, Conrad Borg Manché has been given the home affairs and security portfolio, while Rebekah Borg will be responsible for planning.

The shadow cabinet also includes Ivan Bartolo for social policy and the family, Bernice Bonello for local government and public works, Julian Borg for infrastructure and employment, Eve Borg Bonello for youth, wellbeing and the implementation of the electoral programme, Toni Bezzina for agriculture, fisheries and food supply, Stanley Zammit for housing and lands, Frank Anthony Tabone for Gozo, Julie Zahra for climate change and Grand Harbour regeneration, Justin Schembri for arts, culture and national heritage, Michael Piccinino for the self-employed, small businesses and cooperatives, Paula Mifsud Bonnici for the elderly, Graziella Galea for inclusion, Graham Bencini for sport, Graziella Attard Previ for equality and civil rights, Janice Abela Chetcuti for animal welfare, and Beppe Galea for volunteering.

The party also appointed eight spokespersons to support the shadow cabinet. John Baptist Camilleri will cover aviation, Andrew Agius veterinary services, Miriana Calleja Testaferrata De Noto social cohesion, Norma Camilleri family and children's policy, Annabelle Cilia employment, Ian Vassallo Hagi quality of life, George Vital Zammit research and innovation, and Marilena Gauci the film industry.

Following the announcement, Borg said he had been able to form the alternative cabinet because of the strength of the PN parliamentary group.

He said the shadow cabinet would work in the service of the Maltese and Gozitan people by putting forward solutions aimed at improving the quality of life of the entire population.

"A serious opposition today, a strong government tomorrow," Borg said.

Opposition shadow portfolios

• Alex Perici Calascione
  Deputy Leader and Shadow Minister for Tourism
• Bernard Grech
  Deputy Speaker and Shadow Minister for European Funds, Social Dialogue and Consumer Protection
• Ivan Castillo
  Whip and Shadow Minister for Sustainable Mobility
• John Baptist Camilleri
  Spokesperson for Aviation
• Janice Abela Chetcuti
  Shadow Minister for Animal Welfare
• Andrew Agius
  Spokesperson for Veterinary Services
• Graziella Attard Previ
  Shadow Minister for Equality and Civil Rights
• Miriana Calleja Testaferrata De Noto
  Spokesperson for Social Cohesion
• Ivan Bartolo
  Shadow Minister for Social Policy and the Family
• Norma Camilleri
  Spokesperson for Family and Children’s Policy
• Graham Bencini
  Shadow Minister for Sport
• Toni Bezzina
  Assistant Whip and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Supply
• Bernice Bonello
  Shadow Minister for Local Government and Public Works
• Julian Borg
  Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Employment
• Annabelle Cilia
  Assistant Whip and Spokesperson for Employment
• Rebekah Borg
  Shadow Minister for Planning
• Eve Borg Bonello
  Shadow Minister for Youth, Wellbeing and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme
• Ian Vassallo Hagi
  Spokesperson for Quality of Life
• Conrad Borg Manché
  Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and Security
• Darren Carabott
  Shadow Minister for the Economy, Technology and Strategic Projects
• Jerome Caruana Cilia
  Shadow Minister for Education and Citizenship
• Adrian Delia
  Shadow Minister for Finance
• Beppe Fenech Adami
  Shadow Minister for Foreign and European Affairs
• Beppe Galea
  Shadow Minister for the Voluntary Sector
• Graziella Galea
  Shadow Minister for Inclusion
• Joe Giglio
  Shadow Minister for Justice, Research and Innovation
• George Vital Zammit
  Spokesperson for Research and Innovation
• Paula Mifsud Bonnici
  Shadow Minister for the Elderly
• Michael Piccinino
  Shadow Minister for the Self-Employed, Small Enterprises and Cooperatives
• Mark Anthony Sammut
  Shadow Minister for Energy and the Environment
• Justin Schembri
  Shadow Minister for Arts, Culture and National Heritage
• Marilena Gauci
  Spokesperson for the Film Industry
• Stephen Spiteri
  Shadow Minister for Health
• Frank Anthony Tabone
  Shadow Minister for Gozo
• Julie Zahra
  Shadow Minister for Climate Change and the Regeneration of the Grand Harbour
• Stanley Zammit
  Shadow Minister for Accomodation and Lands