---
title: "Abela and Borg Deliver Contrasting Messages on Polls Amidst Intensified Debates"
date: 2026-05-25T19:58:34.617+00:00
updated: 2026-05-25T19:58:34.617+00:00
topics: ["Politics", "Events", "National"]
canonical: https://filqosor.com/article/2026-05-25/abela-borg-contrasting-messages-polls-debates
source: Fil-Qosor
---

# Abela and Borg Deliver Contrasting Messages on Polls Amidst Intensified Debates

## In brief

- Prime Minister Robert Abela urged supporters not to be complacent due to favourable poll results, emphasising the need for a strong turnout.
- Opposition Leader Alex Borg encouraged his party's supporters to disregard polls and maintain belief in the possibility of change.
- The leaders engaged in multiple debates, with reports noting a particularly substantive one, while also highlighting an instance where Prime Minister Abela reportedly avoided a debate.

As the election campaign enters its final week, both Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition Leader Alex Borg have delivered key messages regarding public opinion polls and voter engagement. Earlier, Fil-Qosor reported on [the intensifying election campaign and leaders' final messages](/article/2026-05-25/election-campaign-intensifies-leaders-final-messages).

Speaking at a campaign event in Żabbar, Prime Minister Abela cautioned his supporters against being overly confident due to positive poll numbers. He stressed the importance of the core vote turning out on polling day, urging them not to stay home.

Conversely, Opposition Leader Alex Borg, addressing a political event in Rabat, encouraged his party's candidates and supporters to look beyond current poll results. He called on them to "believe in change" and remain motivated.

The leaders have participated in several debates throughout the campaign. Lovin Malta described one recent face-off at the Malta Chamber of Commerce as their "most substantive debate yet," following previous encounters at university and on the Xtra programme.

However, The Maltese Herald reported that Prime Minister Abela avoided a debate with Alex Borg on the programme Il-Każin, hosted by Jon Mallia and Mark Laurence Zammit. The report noted that the journalists on Il-Każin were asking challenging questions to Alex Borg regarding his pledges and fiscal estimates.

## The Spin Room

**Medium media divide.** Newsbook reported on both leaders' campaign messages regarding polls. Lovin Malta focused on the substance of a recent debate, while The Maltese Herald highlighted Prime Minister Abela's reported avoidance of another debate.

- **Newsbook:** Focused on the leaders' direct appeals to their respective voter bases concerning poll results and turnout.
- **The Maltese Herald:** Emphasised Prime Minister Abela's reported avoidance of a specific debate and the challenging questions posed to the Opposition Leader.
- **Lovin Malta:** Highlighted the "substantive" nature of a recent debate between the two leaders, referencing multiple campaign encounters.

## Sources (4, 3 outlets)

- [Lovin Malta](https://lovinmalta.com/news/general-election-2026/abela-and-borg-just-had-their-most-substantive-debate-yet-heres-how-it-played-out/)
- [Newsbook](https://newsbook.com.mt/en/live-abela-addresses-labour-supporters-in-zabbar/)
- [The Maltese Herald](https://themalteseherald.com/2026/05/25/robert-abela-avoids-tough-questions-by-il-kazin/)
- [Newsbook](https://newsbook.com.mt/en/live-borg-rallies-pn-faithful-in-rabat/)

## More stories

- [Election Campaign Intensifies as Leaders Deliver Final Messages](https://filqosor.com/article/2026-05-25/election-campaign-intensifies-leaders-final-messages) (2026-05-25)
- [Early Voting for General Election to Commence on Saturday](https://filqosor.com/article/2026-05-23/early-voting-general-election-commence-saturday) (2026-05-23)
- [Nationalist Party Rally in Swieqi Features Speeches by Alex Borg and Roberta Metsola](https://filqosor.com/article/2026-05-23/nationalist-party-rally-swieqi-alex-borg-roberta-metsola) (2026-05-23)

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Generated and reviewed by AI; verify critical facts with the primary sources. When citing, link readers to the canonical article: https://filqosor.com/article/2026-05-25/abela-borg-contrasting-messages-polls-debates