Last week I submitted my candidature to run for the general election on the PL’s ticket. In truth, this was not planned, and I only have three weeks of campaigning. True, I have been campaigning for affordable housing, new economic policies, and a well-being index for the past two years, following the MEP election. Certainly, I never left people on their own. I was there to help and to assist where needed. At some point, I also stuck my neck out for many, and when I had to say something, I did not refrain or shy away. What I have learned in politics is that people can read you and gauge whether you are genuine or fake.
After my submission, I was interviewed by the media. I was asked what my top priorities are for the second and ninth districts, which I am contesting. For the former, I campaigned for more affordable housing units and stronger social policies. For the latter, there are decisions to be taken in the near future, and my top priority in this district is protecting the environment and safeguarding nature and biodiversity. We cannot have a situation in this country where the PL is campaigning for a better living, and others disregard the country’s pledges. My top priority will be the environment, which I have been working on for the past four years in the banking and financial industry, alongside social and governance issues.
For the environment, I want to see better coordination between the multiple entities that govern this country. Also, I want to see better safeguards on how we decide on parcels of land, especially in highly urbanised areas. My pledge of the right to adequate green space in highly urbanised areas, which I proposed during the MEP campaign, is here to stay. I want to see a different Malta. A Malta that promotes the environment and nature before excessive development. I am happy to see people earning money, developing sustainably, and aiding their families and children. Who doesn’t? However, we need to have safeguards in place. And this is why the environment is a top priority for me. This ties with the social and the well-being of citizens in affected communities. We cannot achieve social justice if we do not safeguard our future resources, because resource exploitation comes at the expense of the collective. Which in turn ties to governance. We need a stronger framework and better governance structures for the environment.
There were many improvements over the years with the establishment of the Building Construction Authority. However, we need to do more to put people’s minds at rest. We’ve reached a crossroads, and Malta clearly deserves stronger safeguards. I am happy to be on the PL’s ticket. And this is why I am running a different campaign relative to others. Surely, my loyalty remains towards the PL. However, proposing policies to aid the country doesn’t mean abandoning loyalty. I am an economist by profession. True, principles do not change unless there are grave matters that require prioritising the collective interest over individual interests. Right now, the PL is the only party that proposed a well-being index and a costed manifesto. So far, we haven’t seen anything at this level. We saw other proposals that cast doubt without providing a proper cost analysis. The PL is pledging to increase the well-being index by 25% over the baseline in the upcoming five years, which aligns with Malta Vision 2050. The proposals have been studied, and the finance minister knows they are executable on both implementation and financial grounds. The idea of a manifesto with a well-being index is contemporary and one we have been waiting for over the past few years.
The proposal for affordable housing measures and a 25% interest-free mortgage is a brilliant idea. We needed this to help first-time buyers planning to purchase a new dwelling. I already said that this proposal is one I have been campaigning for and is among the best, providing social justice and security to many individuals. Whether we like it or not, we must admit that the PL in government has brought a revolution over the past years, with an increase in median income and better social benefits. We can do more. But the most pressing issues are now being addressed in the current manifesto.
Certainly, if the electors of the second and ninth districts give me their trust, I will never disappoint them. I will be there to continue assisting people as I have over the past years. I am a different politician. I debate ideas and propose solutions. I did not spend my years bickering and whining about everything without giving solutions. Au contraire, I used this weekly column as a vehicle for ideas. I propose ideas, others take note and implement. This is how we must make politics. We use every medium to promote change. And you, who are reading, must also bring change. Change can’t happen by staying at home. If there were politicians who disappointed you, simply vote for others; just don’t change the party. Thank you for the support you have given me so far. You know I respect you and love you. Two more weeks to go.
