Alex Borg is running to become Nationalist Party leader, competing against Adrian Delia. Read a profile about his rival here.

A 29-year-old lawyer from Gozo, former Mr World Malta, water polo player and gym-enthusiast-turned-politician, might just become the next leader of the opposition and maybe even the next prime minister.

And while different groups of people share many mixed feelings about him, few candidates and MPs in the Maltese political landscape have captured attention as swiftly as Alex Borg.

The young Gozitan MP will turn 30 next week, and he will likely be spending his birthday trying to persuade PN members that age is but a number, and that he is mature enough to be trusted with the helm of the ailing party. After all, Joseph Muscat was also in his early 30s when he took over Labour.

If elected, Borg will be the youngest of all PN and Labour leaders in the modern history of the two parties. The second-youngest would be Dom Mintoff, who rose to the Labour leadership at 33.

And if he wins the next general election, Borg would be the youngest prime minister in history.

A family with political roots

Borg hails from a family with political roots. He is the son of the late Tony Borg, who served as mayor of Fontana and as chief of staff to former popular Gozo minister Giovanna Debono.

He pursued his legal studies at the University of Malta, graduating and commencing his practice as a lawyer in 2019. 

His political journey began to gain momentum in 2020, when he was elected to the MŻPN’s executive committee as the Gozo coordinator. This was followed by his election to the Nationalist Party’s Executive Committee in July 2021.

His rapid ascent culminated when he ran for his first general election in 2022 and was elected with an impressive 6,108 first-preference votes – almost as many as Labour’s frontman in Gozo, Clint Camilleri, with 6,458.  He outpaced veteran Labour MP Anton Refalo (5,002) and incumbent and high-ranking PN veterans.

Speaking to Times of Malta days after the election, Borg, then just 26 years old, said he decided to contest in 2020 and started knocking on doors from day one.

“House visits made me realise what people really want from politicians – they simply want someone who listens to them,” he said.

“I would sit on their sofa, listen intently without interrupting them, and then explain to them what I stand for and how that might help them live better lives.”

Borg said most of them speak of their suffering and he has had a fair share of it after his father was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2013, and died six-and-a-half years later after a long battle with the illness.

“I try to be positive, even when I criticise, because people long for positivity,” Borg told Times of Malta after his election.

“They also appreciate it when you stay humble and close to them, when you meet them in public squares, bars and social events. And I want to remain like that – I want to remain the people’s politician.”

Alex with his father, Tony, who died after a long battle with cancer.

Shadow minister… and the controversy

Shortly after his election, Borg was also appointed shadow minister for Gozo and has been a vocal advocate for Gozitan issues, pushing for the sister island to receive adequate attention and resources.

But he also had his fair share of controversies.

Among the most recent were his statements concerning the Fort Chambray development in Gozo. Environment and heritage NGOs accused him of taking the side of big business, misleading people into thinking the new owners were bound to foot the bill for the fort’s restoration, when in fact it would be taxpayers who would ultimately pay for the multi-million project.

This led to the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life finding that Borg breached ethics, particularly after he refused to apologise for his misleading comments.

Borg’s alleged relationships with big business, particularly developers, have been a significant source of controversy. Critics argue that his political stances often align with the interests of powerful economic actors.

But his first clash with the party was a few months after he was elected when, along with another two PN MPs, he voted against a new IVF law that allows genetic testing before implantation. The rest of the opposition MPs had agreed to vote with the government on that law.

This year, Borg made waves on social media when he openly expressed admiration for US President Donald Trump, particularly for what he perceived as his “nationalist” approach to leadership.

He told Lovin Malta that while some of Trump’s decisions might seem unconventional to outsiders, many Americans view them as actions of a leader who genuinely loves his country and seeks to revitalise industries, such as manufacturing.

When he gave leadership a pass

Borg has already had a chance to contest for PN leadership since his election as an MP but he decided to give it a pass that time.

After the 2022 general election, when Bernard Grech was putting his leadership to the test, rumour had it that Borg could be rising through the ranks to contest him.

He had shut down those rumours, saying it was too early for him to make such a move and that the party needed to unite behind Grech at the time. But he did not rule out a future run.

The Gozitan MP’s rise continued in the following two years; however, when opinion polls began to show Gozo was starting to flip back to PN. And those polls were confirmed in the 2024 MEP election, when Gozo turned blue again.

Even in Malta Today’s opinion poll earlier this month, following which Grech resigned, the abysmal numbers in Malta were not reflected in Gozo. The PN seems to be holding onto its lead in the sister island.

Then came the internal poll, carried out among PN members two weeks ago, as soon as Roberta Metsola announced she would not run.

That poll underscored Borg’s growing influence, indicating him as the clear favourite to become the party’s new leader, leading other prominent figures like Adrian Delia and Franco Debono.

Borg also garnered public attention for his personal life. He is a former Mr World Malta titleholder (2020) and is in a relationship with renowned social media influencer Sarah Bajada.

The new addition to Jadran m:tel for the next season is Spanish water polo player Francisco Valera Calatrava at Škver.

The Spanish international played for Sabadell last season.

He participated in two World Championships with the Spanish national team, winning bronze medals both times. He also won bronze at the European Championships.

He won two gold medals at two World Cups and has a bronze medal in the World League.

Jadran previously hired Lazar Andrić and Danilo Merkulov.

News

Bruce Green has served as a teaching minister for several churches. He and his wife, Janice, recently moved to Searcy. You can find more of Bruce Green’s writings at atasteofgracewithbrucegreen.com.

Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — July is National Park & Recreation Month—a nationwide celebration of the ways parks, green spaces, and outdoor activities contribute to healthier, more connected communities. From local trails and scenic bays to playgrounds and beaches, the Alabama Gulf Coast offers endless opportunities to get outside and stay active. Whether you’re hiking shaded trails, paddling calm waters, or gathering for a family picnic, the month invites everyone to embrace the outdoors and make the most of the region’s natural spaces.

In that same spirit, the first Saturday of each month marks National Play Outside Day, a grassroots movement that began in 2011 to encourage families to unplug and rediscover the simple joys of outdoor play. According to the
National Play Outside Day website, this day was founded by Aaron Wiggans and Rhonda Abeyta, the initiative was created to push back against screen overload and reignite creativity, movement, and connection across all ages. It’s a day to lace up your shoes, grab some sunscreen, and head outdoors for fresh air and fun.

Spending time outside isn’t just enjoyable—it’s good for you. Outdoor activity can lift your mood, reduce stress, and support physical health. For children especially, nature encourages imaginative play through hands-on experiences like climbing, building, and exploring. These shared moments—whether catching a sunset, playing a game, or stargazing—help build stronger family bonds and lasting memories.

Also see:
Celebrate Park and Recreation Month with the City of Orange Beach this July

Outdoor Adventures in Our Area

1. Beaches & Bay

• Gulf Shores and Orange Beach’s Public Beaches – Perfect for shelling, beach games, or family paddle boarding.
• Orange Beach Waterfront Park – Offers picnic shelters, bay access, and calm water ideal for kids and kayaking.

2. Gulf State Park

• Trails: Over 27 miles of multi-use trails, including the award-winning Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail—one of USA Today’s top U.S. trails for three years running.
• Lake Shelby: Fishing, canoeing, or kayaking on a scenic freshwater lake.
• Fishing Pier & Nature Center: A great place for both education and recreation.

3. Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge

Traverse scrub forests, and marsh—home to sea turtles, migratory birds, and diverse wildlife. Trails like Jeff Friend and Pine Beach offer 5 miles of exploration.

4. Trails & Parks Beyond

• Fort Morgan Road Trail & Coyote Crossing – Ideal for biking or hiking.
• Baldwin County Bicentennial Park – Enjoy playgrounds, sports fields, and open green spaces.
  

Simple Ways to Celebrate Today

Choose any—or all—of these fun, low-cost ideas:

• Family picnic at Gulf State Park Pavilion or waterfront shelters.
• Bike ride or hike along scenic Gulf State Park trails.
• Shell hunting or wading on the sand at dawn or sunset.
• Nature scavenger hunt at Bon Secour or Bicentennial Park—spot birds, shells, plants.
• Games & sports: kickball, Frisbee, beach volleyball, or a casual game of catch.
• Stargazing tonight—head to less-lit beaches or bay shore for an unobstructed view.

This year, July 5th is a date to rediscover the simple pleasures of outdoor play. From bay breezes and beachcombing to biking and birdwatching, our region offers a wealth of natural playgrounds. Whether you’re with kids, parents, or friends, today is a perfect day to unplug, reconnect, and make lasting summer memories in the great outdoors.

UNIVERSITY PARK – Four Penn State student-athlete are among the contingent of students traveling to Greece as part of Harvard’s Sport and Education Program: from Ancient Olympia to the Present. The student-athletes participating in the trip, which will take place from July 7-11 in Olympia at the International Olympic Academy (IOA), are wrestling’s Hayden Cunningham, women’s lacrosse’s Abby Baker, and track & field’s Madeleine Söderqvist and Gabriella Recce. The IOA and the Greek General Secretariate of Sport sponsor the program.

For five days this diverse body of students and faculty from Penn State, Harvard, Texas, Dartmouth and Greek universities will convene in the birthplace of the Olympic Games to examine how sport shaped ancient models of knowledge and how, in turn, the ancient athletic-knowledge complex served as a model for modern universities and professional sports.

“I am thrilled and grateful to be able to share this opportunity with Penn State’s student-athletes,” . The chance to learn, think, and talk about the connections between sport and education at the site of the ancient Olympic Games–and to do it with top scholars and students from around the world–is extraordinary.

In the state-of-the-art facilities of the IOA, participants will explore the historical, social and practical connections between sport and education from the ancient Olympics to the modern university system. Faculty-led sessions will take place on the archaeological site and museum of Ancient Olympia and the Museum of the History of the Olympic Game of Antiquity to give students a vital connection to the past.

Faculty members for this year’s program include Schultz, Charles Stocking Academic Director of the Sport and Education Program and associate professor of kinesiology at Texas, Heather Reid, Scholar in Residence at the Exedra Mediterranean Center, and Georgios Mouratidis, assistant director of the British School at Athens. Guest speakers for this program include George Mavrotas, Secretary General of Sports and former Greek Water Polo team captain, Mark Schiefsky, Director of the Center for Hellenic Studies at Harvard and Erin West, Assistant AD for student-athlete development and academic integration at Harvard.