Leader of the Nationalist Party Alex Borg delivered his verdict on the Budget 2026, announced in Parliament last week.
In his first major speech as Leader of the Opposition, he said the Budget has failed to deliver on a number of fronts: “traffic, mass transportation, over population, mental health hospitals, drug problems”.
He attacked the government for failing to recover millions of euros in the failed Vitals Hospital deal even though the ruling delivered by the International Chamber of Commerce, (ITC), had approved Malta’s handling of the case.
The Opposition leader said a future Nationalist government would put forward measures and a long-term vision “for Maltese citizens to live and enjoy their lives without being overworked.”
Alex Borg took a swipe at the Health Service claiming that medicines stocks were running out and a new psychiatric hospital near Mater Dei has failed to materialize.
Turning to Gozo, he called it the “chaotic island” where a promised new hospital still had not been built and traffic congestion a constant problem.
Borg said the Budget lacked a clear vision for mass transport but did say he would work with the prime minister for help find solutions.
While admitting that families were better off in the Budget, he claimed that many others such as the elderly, single persons and families without children were all forgotten by the government.
Alex Borg would up his Budget reply with the unexpected announcement that a new PN government would introduce a Child Trust Fund for every child born to Maltese residents whereby the government would invest an initial capital endowment at birth of €5,000 which could only be withdrawn when the child was 20 years of age.
