Alex Borg Demands Political Accountability Over Prolonged Gozo Power Outages
· Updated
In brief
- Opposition Leader Alex Borg condemned Prime Minister Robert Abela for his absence during severe electricity outages across Gozo.
- Enemalta restored power to affected Gozitan localities after two faults caused blackouts lasting up to 26 hours.
- The prolonged cuts drained telecommunications backup systems and caused widespread disruption for residents and tourism operators.
Opposition Leader Alex Borg has heavily criticised the government over widespread and prolonged power outages affecting Gozo, accusing Prime Minister Robert Abela of being absent while families and businesses suffer.
Speaking publicly on Saturday, Borg called for political responsibility to be shouldered regarding the persistent energy distribution crisis, specifically directing criticism towards the energy minister after repeated summer blackouts across the islands.
State energy provider Enemalta confirmed that electricity supply was eventually restored to Gozitan localities following outages that left some areas without power for roughly 26 hours. The extensive disruptions were attributed to two major cable faults that developed on Friday.
The extended blackout created severe secondary disruptions across Gozo. Telecommunications providers reported that mobile and internet services degraded as backup power systems drained over the course of the outage.
Tourism and hospitality businesses reported significant operational difficulties during the heatwave, with guest houses and catering establishments struggling to manage amid cancelled bookings and distressed guests.
The Nationalist Party highlighted that the power distribution network remains inadequate despite repeated assurances, leaving thousands of Gozitan residents to face consecutive nights without basic electricity supply.
The Gozo Tourism Association (GTA) reported significant operational disruption across the island's hospitality industry, noting that prolonged power cuts affected accommodation providers, restaurants, and visitor services during a critical trading period.
Enemalta confirmed that specialized repair works on the damaged Comino submarine cable are underway and are scheduled for completion on Sunday, aiming to restore permanent network stability between the islands.
Meanwhile, the Opposition criticised Energy Minister Miriam Dalli's public statements on the outages, pointing to mounting public anger and accusing the government of neglecting Gozitan local councils during infrastructural crises.
Opposition leader Alex Borg has intensified his criticism of the administration, questioning the absence of Prime Minister Robert Abela and Energy Minister Miriam Dalli during the latest power cuts.
In a political address broadcast on NET TV, Borg argued that a serious government overseeing a strong economy should ensure that families and businesses are not left without electricity.
Borg also addressed broader rule-of-law concerns, asserting that once the trial of Yorgen Fenech concludes, the Opposition will work to ensure that anyone implicated is brought to justice.
The Spin Room
Medium media divide. Coverage highlighted Alex Borg's political address criticising government leadership, while ONE News had not covered his remarks at the time of writing.
- Newsbook: Focused on Borg's criticism of Robert Abela and Miriam Dalli regarding governance and power cuts.
- The Maltese Herald: Reported on Borg's speech on NET TV, noting his comments connecting rule-of-law issues and accountability to political leadership.
Updates
- : Updated with Opposition leader Alex Borg's address on NET TV, where he criticised government leadership during the power cuts and stated the Opposition would ensure accountability once ongoing rule-of-law trials conclude.