Nationalist Party Leader Alex Borg has promised that all PN accounts will be made public within his first 100 days in office and called on Prime Minister Robert Abela to publish his own leadership campaign expenditure.
Speaking during a public interview in Sliema, where he was interviewed by an independent journalist, Borg said that he has been monitoring the process, and there were great strides made in the auditing and reviewing of the party's accounts.
"I assure you, that during my first 100 days in office the accounts will be published," Borg said.
When asked about the increase in MPs' salaries, Borg said he recognised that collective agreements exist but stressed that the current system is unfair.
"I cannot accept that executives take €1,700 while the public gets €4.66. We must help the people first," he said.
He also criticised the automatic COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) mechanism, saying the formula "has been used for years but no longer reflects today's realities."
"What was once a luxury has become a necessity. We need to sit with the government to revise the formula so that it truly helps the public," Borg said, adding that luxuries of yesterday have become the normality of today.
Two months after taking up his role as Leader, Borg said that the PN is undergoing intense internal work, and that failure would only come "if we start believing we have arrived."
"There is still a lot to do and many people to meet. Politics is about being inclusive, meeting everyone, even those who do not agree with you. I have always welcomed people with open arms. There is much to be done, and we will keep working," Borg said.
Borg said what makes him proudest is seeing the PN "coming out of its shell" again.
"The party is returning to the streets, and more people are coming to the headquarters. Every room is now alive with people. The party has a heartbeat again and a certificate of life that we can guarantee a better future," he said.
He said the biggest challenge so far has been managing the wave of enthusiasm and expectations from supporters.
"I am bombarded with calls and messages because we have given people hope. I apologise that I cannot meet everyone, but that is a good problem, it shows the opportunity to keep connecting," Borg said.
Asked about changes he has implemented, Borg said the PN has "made use of every space" and entrusted young people with real responsibilities.
"I gave power to young people and showed them they are capable and leave them to organise events. They are not just the future, they are the present," he said.
He said one major shift has been the PN's investment in social media.
"Today, it is essential to have a strong online presence. We have brought in technical people to handle social media, and we are producing reels and videos to reach young audiences," Borg said.
He hinted that on Monday, his reaction to the Budget would showcase "a different and more convincing branding."
"You will notice tomorrow that this party is working differently," he said.
On the PN's CEO role and party finances, Borg explained that Sabine Agius Cabourdin's role as PN CEO differs from that of Secretary General Charles Bonello, who focuses on message and party operations.
"The CEO's goal is to make the party economically viable. A political party that doesn't blend commercialisation with its political work will not survive. We are setting monthly targets for revenue, exploring new markets, and maximising income from party clubs," Borg said.
He contrasted this with the government, saying, the party in government can "exploit" public funds, but the PN cannot.
Borg spoke of his commitment to transparency and accountability, noting that he had published his own campaign expenses, a total of €41,033.89 on his campaign for the PN Leadership post, albeit doing so right on the deadline.
"I have always believed in transparency. My campaign was funded by family and fundraising activities. I did not get here alone, I had a formidable team and volunteers who did everything to reach people," Borg said.
He called on Prime Minister Robert Abela to publish his own leadership campaign expenditure from his leadership race and pledged that the PN's accounts would be made public within his first 100 days as leader.
Asked about Monday's Budget response, Borg said it will be an honour to deliver his first budget reply as Opposition Leader.
He acknowledged some positive measures in the Budget but argued that it "lacked vision."
"I ask the public, after this Budget, have we solved Malta's biggest challenges? Has traffic decreased? Did the Prime Minister give us a plan for the cost of living or overpopulation?" he asked.
"When the PN is in government, we will build on what is good, but we will also ensure no one is left behind. We will address social problems and national challenges with concrete proposals for a better quality of life," Borg said.
Commenting on the government's Vision 2050, Borg said even members within Labour seem to lack unity on the plan. "Is it Robert Abela's vision or Clyde Caruana's? There's no synergy," he said.
Borg criticised what he called a lack of clarity and unity within the Labour government on the mass transport policy.
"There is a split, the Prime Minister says one thing is possible, while Finance Minister Clyde Caruana says the opposite. The PN is the only party with a clear, united approach and knows what it wants to deliver," he said, adding that he is ready to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the government to implement some type of mass transportation system after consulting experts and conducting studies.
He added that while financial incentives for families are important, "money alone will not convince people to have more children," Borg said.
He praised PN MEP David Casa's work on the EU work-life balance directive and defended his party's proposal to study a four-day work week.
"We never said we would impose it on the whole country. We said we should study it, like other countries have done, and do pilot projects. Even unions are open to the idea. Meanwhile, Minister Caruana keeps saying it is not possible," Borg said.
On Malta's growing population, Borg said the PN wants a comprehensive labour market study to assess the number and role of foreign workers.
"We need to see where Maltese workers can return to key sectors like the health sector. We can offer incentives such as raising stipends to the national minimum wage to attract Maltese," he said.
Borg said that infrastructure and roads cannot cope with current demand, while capital expenditure has dropped by €100 million in this Budget.
Borg welcomed the Budget's permanent measure for first-time buyers but said affordable housing remains "one of the biggest challenges for young people."
He cited PN proposals such as rent-to-buy schemes, equity-sharing models, and incentives for couples to renovate and inhabit vacant properties.
Asked what reforms he would prioritise as Prime Minister, Borg listed three; a national mass transport system, labour market overhaul to manage overpopulation, and a major investment in new hospitals in Malta and Gozo, following the PN's court victory over the Steward hospitals deal.
He said the PN is already "well-prepared" for a possible election next year, strengthening its volunteer base and finances.
"We're growing stronger every day to win," he said. He was also asked what bothered him about politics from a youth's perspective, to which he said that partisan talk bothered him, and that the national interest should be sought out first rather than seeking for votes.
Finally, he was asked if he had any question he wished he would have been asked, to which Borg pledged that the PN would never threaten journalists like the PL does.
"We will give you liberty to work freely, we will not do like Labour, which threatened Net News with legal action but never filed the case. We will give you the guarantee to work and ask us anything," Borg said.