Alex Borg appoints Ivan Castillo as new Opposition Whip

PN Leader Alex Borg has appointed Ivan Castillo as Whip of the Opposition and the Nationalist Party’s parliamentary group, the PN said in a statement.

Borg announced the appointment during the first meeting with the newly elected cohort of MPs following the completion of the electoral process.

The meeting was held following the conclusion of the electoral process, including the casual elections held on Tuesday to fill seats vacated by PN candidates elected from two districts in the general election, as well as the application of the gender balance mechanism.

The PN said that as part of a restructuring of the way the parliamentary group functions, two Deputy Whips and a Secretary of the parliamentary group will also be appointed for the first time in the coming days.

Addressing the parliamentary group, Borg congratulated all elected MPs and thanked them for choosing to serve, while also expressing gratitude to candidates who were not elected.

He appealed to those candidates to continue feeling part of the Nationalist Party and said he was proud of the new parliamentary group, which he described as bringing together experienced MPs and new faces, including several young parliamentarians elected for the first time.

Borg said the combination of experience and new energy would contribute to the good of the country.

The PN leader also urged MPs to remain in contact with people, not only during election campaigns but throughout the legislature.

He said that feedback received by the party following the election highlighted the importance of the PN remaining close to people at all times, even while serving in Opposition.

The PN said that the new parliamentary group includes 13 first-time MPs. It also includes 12 female MPs, four of whom were elected to Parliament for the first time.

The party described this as further evidence of its ongoing renewal process, which it said would continue to strengthen the PN as an alternative government.

The new parliamentary group will be sworn in during the first sitting of Parliament of the new legislature on Saturday.

The PN said its parliamentary group will consist of 37 MPs, while the Labour Party’s parliamentary group will be made up of 42 MPs.

The party also announced that its General Council will meet on 24 June to begin the process leading to the confirmation or appointment of the PN leader following the general election, as stipulated by the party statute.

The council meeting will follow a series of regional assemblies being held this week in Malta and Gozo, the statement said.

RSS Feed Source: Independent Malta Alex Borg appoints Ivan Castillo as new Opposition Whip