Nationalist Party Leader Alex Borg said that he is not happy with the results of a survey issued by MaltaToday on Sunday which has indicated that the voting intentions gap has narrowed down to a 2.6% difference between the PN and the Labour Party.
The survey resulted that voting intentions favour the PL at 48.7%, followed by the PN at 46.1%, then the ADPD with 4.1%, and Momentum coming in with 1.2%. The gap between the PL and PN was calculated to be of around 7,600 votes.
Borg described the survey as a positive one for the PN, but said that the party needs to roll up its sleeves and work more than it ever has before. "The people want to see a better future for our country, and they are calling for the Nationalist Party to give them back the country," Borg remarked while participating in a Q&A session on Sunday, where he responded to questions from youths.
The Opposition Leader said that he wants youths to be the protagonists of Malta's future, as he further commented that youths should be at the heart of the most important decisions made in Malta.
He said that the PN is being strengthened and renewed, and is giving more importance to youths in its policies. "I believe in the capability of our youth, and I want them to be the face of the party... They are facing great challenges, and they need people who understand them to help address these challenges," he said, as he added that the PN has put forward a number of proposals to assist in this regard.
"Starting with affordability... Many youths question how they can become homeowners and start their own families without having to rent forever or keep paying loans forever... We believe that you should have the opportunity to really be the owners of your home," Borg said. He spoke of proposals such as rent-to-own and the equity-sharing model as assistance in investing in one's home. He commented that such proposals are just the beginning, as he said that the PN has many more yet to come.
On the topic of education, Borg stated that the education sector is crucial for the country, as he said that a failure to invest in it would jeopardise a strong future generation. He continued that education needs to be paired with ongoing technological advancements, as he said that keeping up with such advancements is an important factor in companies being interested in investing in the country. He added that the country should have a skilled workforce that can enter into crucial emerging sectors which can bring in quality work.
Speaking on mental health, Borg said that it is a matter which cannot keep being swept under the rug, as he expressed that there needs to be solidarity with people going through hardship.
He said that the PN is pushing forward politics which raises awareness about such struggles and advocates for support. He said that, during his budget speech, he had spoken of the importance of establishing an ecosystem of assistance in localities, where counsellors, social workers, and other experienced individuals could offer support to those who need it.
Borg stated that Malta needs a new mental health hospital. He said that this important subject is one which needs to be addressed, as he said that Mount Carmel Hospital does not have the necessary infrastructure to assist people going through such hardship.
Asked about the topic of transportation, the PN Leader said that he has been prepared to sit down with the government to discuss how the future is evolving and decide on something to implement. He added that he has been prepared to sign a memorandum of understanding regarding a mass transportation system. He commented that the Opposition knows the direction it wants to go, but the government does not.
On the Vitals arbitration, Borg said that the government had used up the days prior to publishing the decision in order to direct the agenda and the discourse towards the notion of a "victory". He continued that once the government published the document after being pressured by the Opposition and by independent journalists, then one would see upon reading the document that there was no victory for Malta in this case.