Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1086539
6 While 50% of the PN's MEP candidates have a background in the legal profes- sion, 36% of PL candidates have a similar background. On the other hand while a fifth of PL candidates are trained as economists. These are Alfred Sant, Robert Micallef and Flue Vella. Lawyer Miriam Dalli also has training in business administration. None of the PN candi- dates have a background in econom- ics but Michael Mercieca and lawyer Frank Psaila who also has a background in management. The PL is also fielding two candidates from the financial servic- es sector namely Noel Cassar and James Grech. But the PN is the only party to field a sociologist (Michael Briguglio). The PD is the only party fielding a medical doctor (Anthony Buttigieg) and a former army officer (Martin Cauchi In- glott). The PL has also so far managed to field more female and declared LGBTIQ can- didates. While only 2 of the PN's 10 can- didates are women, the PL is fielding 5 women among its 14 candidates (36%). The PL is also fielding two openly gay candidates namely Cyrus Engerer and Felix Busuttil. AD is fielding the only transgender candidate in these election; namely Mina Tolu who at 27 years of age is also the youngest candidate so far. Although the PL is fielding the second youngest candidate in these election (Jo- sianne Cutajar), the average age of the PN candidates is 3 years younger than Labour's. This is mainly due to the fact that the PL fielding two candidates over the age of 60 in contrast to the PN field- ing only one. But the majority of candidates in both parties are under the age of 50. These ac- count for 6 out of the PN's 10 candidates and 10 out of 14 PL candidates. After Ar- nold Cassola's decision to context as an independent candidate the average age of AD's candidates has fallen from 51 to 45. The PD is the only party to field a na- tional from another EU country namely Cami Appelgren who hails from Sweden. 3 of the PL's candidates namely Mary Gauci, Felix Busuttil and Josianne Cuta- jar hail from Gozo, compared to only 1 PN candidate namely David Stellini. But both parties are fielding an equal percentage of candidates hailing from the south of Malta. While four of the PN's candidates hail from the south (Luqa, Senglea, Zejtun and Valletta), the PL is fielding six candidates from the southern regions (Tarxien, M'Xlokk, Senglea, Zurrieq, Zejtun, Zabbar). But 4 of the PN's 10 candidates hail from the north harbour region in contrast to 2 PL candidates. Both major parties include a candidate who had contested with a minor party in previous elections. While the PN is fielding former AD chairperson Michael Briguglio, Labour is fielding Mary Gauci maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 27 FEBRUARY 2019 NEWS ANALYSIS Lawyers prevail among candidates, economists financial advisors On Sunday Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia announced three new candidates for the upcoming European Parliament elections, bringing the tally of his party to 10 against Labour's 14. MALTATODAY's analysis of the demographics of candidates finds that while the PN's team has a lower average age than Labour's the latter has a more diverse team in terms of geography and occupation JAMES DEBONO POLITICAL STATUS PROFESSION AGE HOMETOWN Roberta Metsola incumbent MEP Lawyer 40 St Julians Francis Zammit Dimech incumbent MEP Lawyer 64 St Julians David Casa incumbent MEP Civil servant 50 Valletta Roseyln Borg Knight Party official/candidate Lawyer 37 St Julians David Stellini MP Press advisor 41 Sannat Gozo Michael Mercieca Former local councillor Projects Manager 54 Senglea Dione Borg Party journalist Journalist 53 Attard Frank Psaila Net TV host Lawyer/ Management 38 Luqa Michael Briguglio Sliema councillor Sociologist 43 Sliema Peter Agius Head of Unit in EU parliament Lawyer 40 Zejtun Alfred Sant Incumbent MEP Economist 70 Sliema Miriam Dalli Incumbent MEP Lawyer/Business admin 42 Mosta Alex Agius Saliba Secretary general of FZL Lawyer 31 Tarxien Cyrus Engerer MEP candidate in 2014 Diplomat 37 Sliema Felix Busuttil First time candidate Choreographer/Dancer 54 Victoria Gozo Josef Caruana Person of trust in OPM Journalist 45 Senglea Noel Cassar First time candidate Financial services 32 Zejtun James Grech First time candidate Banker 44 Zabbar Joe Sammut Former MP Lawyer 54 Zurrieq Josianne Cutajar First time candidate Lawyer 29 Nadur Gozo Fleur Vella MEP candidate in 2014 Economist/entrepreneur 41 Naxxar Mary Gauci MEP candidate in 2009 Civil servant 63 Victoria Gozo Robert Micallef Former candidate 2004 Economist 50 Marsaxlokk Lorna Vassallo Former PL candidate Legal Procurator 44 Mgarr Carmel Cacopardo Party chairman Architect 62 Valletta Mina Tolu New candidate Communications Officer 27 San Gwann Cami Appelgren First time candidate Manager 34 Ahus Sweden Anthony Buttigieg Former party leader Medical doctor 57 Rabat Martin Cauchi Inglott Secretary General of PD Diplomat/army officer 52 Pembroke PN PL AD PD MEP elections