VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Bernard Grech has officially stepped down as leader of Malta’s Nationalist Party (PN), announcing his resignation in a live address on Net TV this afternoon. His departure closes a turbulent four-year chapter marked by persistent electoral struggles and plummeting public support.
Grech, who took the helm in 2020 after Adrian Delia’s divisive leadership, was seen as a unifying figure expected to rebuild the fractured party. Initially winning strong internal backing with 69% of the leadership vote, Grech faced mounting challenges in reversing the PN’s electoral decline.
Despite briefly narrowing the gap with the Labour Party (PL) in last year’s European and local council elections, the party’s recent dismal polling figures sealed his fate. A MaltaToday survey published this week showed Labour widening its lead over the PN to nearly 39,000 votes, echoing the landslide defeat of 2022. Grech’s personal trust rating also dropped sharply, trailing Prime Minister Robert Abela by 31 points.
In his resignation letter to PN Secretary General Charles Bonello, Grech said his decision was driven by loyalty to the party and the Maltese people, believing new leadership is essential for the PN’s renewal. He expressed his hope that this step would open a new chapter for the party.
Grech will remain as Opposition Leader until his successor is chosen. The PN’s Executive Committee will meet tomorrow to formally begin the leadership contest.
Reflecting on his tenure, Grech described the past five years as both rewarding and personally challenging. He thanked his family, party members, and the public for their support, and asked for forgiveness from anyone he may have disappointed.
The PN has publicly thanked Grech for his service, acknowledging his efforts to modernise the party and strengthen its internal structures.
However, political observers caution that the PN’s next leader faces an uphill battle to reconnect with voters and restore the party’s relevance ahead of the next general election.
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