Partit Nazzjonalista Leader Alex Borg called on people to “be the protagonists of our country’s future” during a political activity held in Raħal Ġdid alongside PN candidates from the fourth district.
Speaking during the event, Borg described population growth as one of the most sensitive issues facing Malta, saying it directly impacts families, workers, students, and the elderly. He said many people are feeling pressure in everyday life through traffic congestion, queues, pressure on services, rising prices, and concerns linked to national identity and security.
Alex Borg noted that Malta’s population has increased from around 420,000 in 2013 to over 570,000 today, while the number of foreign residents rose from approximately 20,000 to 170,000. He also referred to comments previously made by Finance Minister Clyde Caruana suggesting Malta could reach a population of 800,000 within the next 14 years if the current economic model remains unchanged.
During his speech, Borg outlined several proposals linked to immigration and population planning. These included a holistic reform of the work and residence permit system and the creation of two separate one-stop shops — one for Maltese and European citizens to access services such as passports and identity cards, and another for employers and third-country nationals to simplify procedures.
The PN leader also proposed the creation of a National Authority responsible for population levels, tasked with carrying out labour market studies, population planning, and national capacity assessments related to infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and roads. He further proposed mandatory basic Maltese language courses for third-country nationals working directly with the public.
On security, Borg announced plans for a joint task force between the Armed Forces of Malta and the Police Force to tackle drug trafficking, human trafficking, and illegal immigration, while promising stronger investment in disciplined forces, especially in Gozo. He also pledged reforms to make the Immigration Appeals Board more independent and transparent.
Alex Borg concluded by saying Malta “can truly breathe again” if people support policies that place citizens at the centre of decision-making.
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