Re-entering politics

After a few months of deliberation and meetings with the Prime Minister, I decided to re enter politics. Well, if I ever left! I took the decision with serenity and with a clear realisation that what I campaigned for after the MEP elections is now in the PL’s manifesto.

I understand that it is not easy to re enter politics once you exit. I thought it was going to be a short lived experience, given that I ruled it out back in 2024, right after the MEP elections. However, when the PL presented the manifesto, I realised that it would have been a shame to be left out of what I have been campaigning for – inter alia, affordable housing and aid for those in need. The idea of a 25% interest free loan to cover accommodation is indeed commendable. Certainly, the policies that the PL is currently proposing are designed to address some of the anomalies, as well as those pockets that are not reaping the benefits of economic growth.

When people ask me whether these proposals are sustainable and whether they will add to the country’s debt, the answer must be given in relative terms. This means that if the economy keeps growing, and we address these pockets to improve the quality of life of many, then it is sustainable. We always speak of additional economic growth, but we fall short in asking what it comes at the expense of. Seeing the PL’s manifesto addressing these lacunas and pockets is indeed commendable. True, after the MEP elections, I wasn’t keen on re entering politics. However, my passion to aid people and serve the country, as I did in previous posts before joining the private sector, made me reconsider. Surely, what I campaigned for was simply to stand shoulder to shoulder with families, especially those less advantaged. I am not here promoting laziness. I am promoting what we must do as a state to provide the tools to elevate people. I can express this because I grew up in a deprived environment. Material well being wasn’t the norm. We struggled to make it in life, especially in Bormla and Cottonera. The stigma was certainly untoward and unfair to us. However, when given the right opportunities, we exploited them and moved forward.

My vision is wider, and I want to see the PL’s manifesto executed if the electorate gives Prime Minister Robert Abela another chance. Many observers argue that Dr Abela has demonstrated leadership, keeping Malta afloat through economic storms and geopolitical shocks over the past few years. Surely, having a manifesto that offers a well being index tied to all the policies presented is unprecedented. Commentators note that no other political party has ever achieved such a milestone. This aligns with what I have campaigned for in the private industry, in banking and finance. So, I think it is important to keep pushing these ideas against the backdrop of Malta Vision 2050. One of the proposals I pushed for over the past two years was proper remote working, as well as flexi time. I tied this to improving efficiency in terms of time and reducing emissions. The proposal can help alleviate some of the traffic problems. It is also in line with the EU’s direction on decarbonising the continent.

The PL presented several proposals that aim to help families. When you consider these policies in light of what is happening abroad, one might question their feasibility. However, when seen in isolation and relative to economic growth and public finance management, one realises that it is indeed possible to implement the policies presented so far. What we need to ensure is that the PL clearly explains the policies to the public, as they are doing. My role is to aid the PL in promoting such policies. As you all know, I have never had any problem criticising government policies when needed, and I have been quite blunt and explicit. We need to ensure that whatever is promised to the electorate is executable and well thought out.

What is being proposed on the other side is a different story. I have not been convinced by the energy proposal, which many analysts consider crucial for stability. The solar panel proposal seems half-baked. The refuelling hub proposal is to consider LNG, which is seen as a source of clean energy in transition by 2035. Thereafter, we would need to rethink how to do business. An investment that will take years to realise and become outdated before it is even realised in terms of EU policy direction. Some experts would have considered other energy sources in line with EU policy.

To conclude, what I said this week on TV is that if Dom Mintoff were still alive, he would be shoulder to shoulder with us, campaigning for this manifesto. It is a manifesto that promotes socialist leaning policies. And for this, I must thank the Prime Minister and the PL for listening to us, and to the public, when designing it. Thank you. I am happy to be part of the PL’s formidable team. Let’s do this.