The Nationalist Party has made it a habit of crying foul when it comes to Malta’s finances, but its own track record is riddled with hypocrisy and incompetence. While it tries hard to paint a picture of economic mismanagement by the government, it consistently fails the most basic tests of credibility, both in its internal operations and public discourse.

Let’s not forget that the PN couldn’t even produce a pre-budget document this year…a fundamental task for any opposition party aspiring to lead. Instead, it fumbled through the summer, unable to muster the intellectual or organisational capacity to present even a semblance of an economic plan.

Meanwhile, the PN’s internal financial debacles are an embarassing contradiction to its criticism of government fiscal policy. The millions in expiring ċedoli loans remain a ticking time bomb for the party, yet there is no transparency, no accountability, and no answers. For years, the PN has flouted its legal obligation to publish its accounts, all while posturing as a champion of financial prudence. This is not just an embarrassment; it is a blatant betrayal of the trust of its supporters.

Let’s talk about Ridley Scott

The PN’s penchant for opportunistic outrage is another glaring flaw. When filmmaker Ridley Scott’s comments about Malta as a holiday destination caused controversy, the PN was quick to demand the resignation of the Film Commissioner. It jumped on the bandwagon with a knee-jerk reaction, exposing its eagerness to exploit any situation for political gain, regardless of context.

Yet, when PN leader Bernard Grech declared that he was “ashamed to be Maltese,” an insult to every citizen of this country, there was no call for accountability. By its own standards, Grech should have resigned on the spot. But the PN conveniently turned a blind eye to this disgraceful remark, proving once again that its principles are malleable when it suits its agenda. This double standard undermines any moral authority the PN pretends to have.

The PN is not only failing to provide credible opposition, it is actively damaging its own prospects and credibility. Its attempts to fabricate crises, while ignoring its own internal problems, are insulting to the intelligence of the Maltese people. Instead of addressing its own financial chaos and leadership failures, the PN is content to throw stones from a crumbling glass house.

This self-inflicted irrelevance does nothing for Malta or its citizens. The country deserves a serious opposition that can challenge the government constructively, not a party that substitutes substance with spin and outrage. Until the PN confronts its own inadequacies, it will continue to be little more than a shadow of its former self, leaving the electorate with no reason to trust it with the reins of power.

Malta is thriving despite the PN’s constant attempts to tear it down. As Ridley Scott rightly said, this island is a jewel in the Mediterranean: a sentiment echoed in the success of productions like Gladiator 2, which brought significant investment to the country. The PN’s doom-and-gloom rhetoric rings hollow in the face of these achievements. It’s time for the Nationalist Party to stop tearing others down and start fixing itself, or risk becoming entirely irrelevant. A New Year’s resolution, perhaps?