With an expected election around the corner and a Malta Today survey showing the two major parties neck and neck, Alex Borg has one looming issue: the independent voter.In the same survey, the PN registered 46.1%, while ADPD scored 4.1% and Momentum 1.2%.What is clear is that these votes are not being taken away from the PL, which continues to enjoy strong support from its broad coalition, but rather from the PN, who has still not convinced the independent voter that it can address the shortcomings of the current government.Momentum and ADPD, more prominently Arnold Cassola and Sandra Gauci, have built a reputation of tenacity and trust, one that has not been tainted by greed or money.They continue to fight for people daily, taking on the small but crucial battles and often keeping government authorities in check. This consistent work has earned them political favour and over 5% of the total vote. However, the way Malta’s parliamentary system is designed makes it extremely difficult for them to gain parliamentary representation, effectively wasting a sizeable chunk of the vote.Alex Borg and the PN should be aware of this. They understand that the independent vote is crucial if the PN is to stand a chance in the coming election.It might be time to recognise that many parties abroad have strategically aligned to defeat incumbents and form majorities in the past. Bipartisan thinking is what has kept the PN from winning an election for over a decade. The answer may lie with the smaller parties.In the Maltese democratic setting, when one major party fails to perform or lacks a strong leader, the other party is left unchecked for long stretches of time and this is terrible for democracy.Accountability comes from competition. Just like a monopoly, a government that does not fear losing an election will not behave as if it has anything to lose. Many of today’s injustices stem from a systematic lack of opposition over the last few election cycles.However, Alex Borg appears different. In just a few months as PN leader, the PL has clearly felt the pressure and the Malta Today survey reflects this shift. The government has suddenly announced Manoel Island and White Rocks as national parks and presented a very generous budget. Project Green seems to unveil a new park every other day, and mass transit and metro discussions have resurfaced in full force.And yet an election has not been called, even though the Prime Minister had previously hinted he would do so once a new PN leader was elected. This all points to one thing – competition is healthy.Malta needs an effective opposition capable of keeping the government in check as seems to finally be happening now, with figures like Joseph Muscat and Edward Zammit Lewis openly warning that the PN, and Alex Borg specifically, should not be underestimated.Over the past few years, particularly during Bernard Grech’s leadership, figures like Sandra Gauci, Arnold Cassola, and Andre Callus of Moviment Graffitti tried to fill the vacuum left by a weak opposition that was not putting real pressure on the government. But they did not have the political capital the PN enjoys, and were therefore limited in their ability to counter oppressive government decisions.Borg now finds himself at a critical moment for Malta. He still has much to learn, and he must convince more people not only of his ideas but also of his ability to execute them.But if he is serious about changing the political landscape, he should strongly consider approaching Momentum and ADPD and exploring an amicable agreement, one that could finally allow them parliamentary representation through a coalition framework. This could be the difference between closing the gap with the PL and ensuring that the independent vote is meaningfully represented in Parliament.•