Thank you!

On the eve of silent day, I will try to recount how it all started. Those who have been following this space, might know that I started writing for The Malta Business Weekly, almost two years ago. Indeed, this is my 98th contribution.

When I was approached in June 2022, I wondered whether I must start writing about different topics. In hindsight, I regret for not starting earlier than 2022. There is nothing more pleasing than contributing to new ideas and thoughts. Frankly, I never experienced the gratification of freedom of expression. Today, I admit that there is a point of no return. I will never look back. Hence, I want to thank the editor and those who approached me back in June 2022 for always being supportive. What I feel is that The Malta Business Weekly is truly an independent space. The editor never sanctioned me and always left my contributions untouched. If you really want to write for an independent newspaper, feel free to do it here.

It all started with my online vlogs. I came back from Brussels in December 2021. At that point I decided, along with my husband Ray Azzopardi, to shy away from politics, especially international politics. However, I knew that the war in Ukraine was about to erupt. Obviously, prior to leaving the Political and Security Committee (PSC) we had different security briefings. We were told that Russia was about to invade Ukraine. We had all the information, including the satellite images of the movements and the military equipment that will be used. What irked my eye was primarily the idea of Ursula von der Leyen and Roberta Metsola taking centre stage in the diplomatic relations. Whereas in the PSC we were always told to use caution through diplomatic language, a month after I left, the narrative shifted to a churlish one. Josep Borrell was made redundant and the established practice of an HRVP dealing with other countries was completely abolished.

I still cannot fathom why Ursula von der Leyen monopolised the entire diplomatic relations. To make matters worse, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, was in competition to also take centre stage. It is truly sad to have witnessed this whole charade, when we could have easily kept Vladimir Putin hanging, negotiating security guarantees, while accelerating the EU accession path for Ukraine. When you think about it, you realise that they are either amateurs or they had another agenda. What mattered most though is that in the past two years I managed to draw the attention of the EU Commission, and the media abroad with my weekly contributions. I know for a fact that they read what I write. Also, I was told that for the EU Commission I am an important stakeholder, given that I was in the midst of the EU institutions. Hence, this is why they read and follow what I say. My contributions were not always political. I touched upon different topics, including the importance of bees, the importance to prepare for climate mitigation and adaptation, foreign affairs, the implications of sanctions on countries, as well as banking and ESG.

What I can say is that whatever happens after Saturday, 8 June, I will still keep writing. The most important thing is that people realise what this election is all about. We must understand that not casting our vote is not an option. The electorate must analyse and elect the representatives that are mostly equipped with experience to represent them. We must resist those that are devoid of diplomatic language. Witnessing the erosion of the EU’s raison d’être truly saddens me. The way the EU is handling foreign affairs is certainly abysmal. This is not just about Valdimir Putin. It is about whether we believe in the EU values. The EU values are not á la carte values. We cannot punish a country with sanctions, while allowing another country to get away with arms aggression, simply because they are not Vladimir Putin. Roberta, please take note of Ilham Aliyev.

Let’s for a while leave aside the mess left in Gaza. However, I must mention that it is the doing of both presidents. Most importantly we must not allow the EU Commission to consume additional powers. It is becoming dangerous. We must keep them in check and balances. Frankly, I am not happy with the situation. And in all honesty, I can’t understand why the EU Commission managed to ride roughshod over Council and the EU Parliament. If they truly believe in democracy they must be kept in check and balances. The Ukraine war is just an alienation. And we must understand and dig further.

My promise to the electorate is that if they give me the privilege to serve them, I will definitely promote Malta, and its neutrality clause. We must bring back diplomacy and dialogue. Else, the next five years will see more conflicts and wars. Lastly, I want to thank all the volunteers that believed in me, my husband Ray for always being there for me and the PL, as well as the people who showed love and respect towards my work.

Thank you!