Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1500676
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 4 JUNE 2023 9 INTERVIEW generation lieve it is possible to regain that lost trust. In fact, as one of the younger generation of Nation- alist MPs – I mean 'younger' in the sense that I was elected for the first time in March 2022; and had no previous experience in politics whatsoever – I feel it is my job, and that of other new- ly-elected MPs, to try and re- verse those negative perceptions about Maltese politics. Because we were not there, when any of those past mistakes were made. Which is not to say that we 'won't make any mis- takes ourselves', obviously... but we are a new generation of poli- ticians, who played no part at all in the politics of yesteryear. So it is up to us, really, to pro- vide a new political direction for the Nationalist party... one which is closer to the people; and more in touch with their everyday aspirations. Basical- ly, what I refer to as 'politics of the street'; because I believe it is there, at street level, that we need to be present, the most. But with the right people on board, I also believe that it per- fectly possible, to reach out to those disillusioned voters: not just in Gozo, but in Malta too. We just need to work harder... Let's turn to the individual grievances themselves. One major complaint in Gozo con- cerns 'over-development', and 'the rape of the environment'. And yet, when Xaghra's Labour mayor Christian Zammit made this issue the focal point of his own campaign... he failed to get re-elected (and even re- signed from the Labour Party). Could it simply be, then, that Gozitans are not as 'unhappy' about the environment, as we all seem to think they are? Now that you've mentioned Christian Zammit: let me take the opportunity to commend him, from here. I have a lot of admiration for Christian, be- cause – regardless of our politi- cal differences - the step he took, clearly shows that he is a man who places principles above party allegiance. The moment he felt that his own party was acting against the values that he himself believes in... he 'stood up to be counted'. And it takes courage, to stand up to your own party like that... But there is, of course, a reason why he felt he had to do that: be- cause there is simply no political will, on the part of the Labour government, to actually address all the issues he was raising. The Labour government has no in- terest, in putting a stop to all the obscenities ['hnizirijiet'], that are happening in Gozo right now; and have been happening, over the past few years.. Do the Gozitans have that will, though? Do they really want to put a stop to those 'obscen- ities'? And if so: why don't they support those politicians who actually speak out, on environ- mental issues? Oh, the people of Gozo DO want a change: of that, I can absolutely assure you. Even on my own home visits – because I've already started knocking on people's doors, as part of my ef- forts for the 2024 local council elections – I hear this with my own ears, all the time. Speak to just about anyone in Gozo, in fact, and they'll all you the same thing: i.e., that they really are 'sick and tired', with the status quo... But I have to stress that: what actually angers Gozitans the most, is not so much 'construc- tion', in and of itself. It's the way things are being done. It's the shoddy planning; the lack of clear regulations; the way that certain developments always go ahead, no matter how severely they will affect the character, and quality of life, of the rest of the town or village... That is the sort of thing that upsets people the most, in Gozo; and I am one of them myself. I am not 'against construction', as such... on the contrary: I ful- ly recognise that 'progress' is important – if nothing else, be- cause Gozo cannot realistically remain a 'presepju', forever. But 'progress' cannot come at the expense of all those qualities, and characteristics, that make Gozo the unique island that it is. At the same time, however: what is the Nationalist Party itself proposing that is in any way different from Labour? Will the PN commit itself to, for example, 'putting a stop to those obscenities'... and if so: how, exactly? Funny you should ask, because – just this week, in parliament – we discussed this very issue: a new Local Plan for Gozo. And on the part of the Opposition: we asked the government, di- rectly, whether it would be will- ing to discuss the creation of a new planning policy for Gozo: one which would actually take into account the contemporary realities of that island, because... ... let's face it: the current plans we have, for Gozo, ha- ven't actually changed, in any detail whatsoever, since they were first approved back in 2006. And personally: I don't think that today's realities, in Gozo, are the same as they were 17 years ago. So it is important that the two parties get together, and sit around a table to discuss – together with all the other stakeholders: including, nat- urally, the residents of Gozo themselves – what type of Local Plan we really need, to address the issues that are causing so many problems in Gozo, today. One last question. You de- scribe yourself as a 'new' poli- tician, with no past experience in politics; but your name has already been touted as a pos- sible future leader of the Na- tionalist Party. So far you, you have consistently denied hav- ing any such aspirations; but would you exclude any future PN leadership bid, from now? As I've always said, in the past: I believe I have to first learn how to walk, before I try to start run- ning. And I also feel I still have a lot to learn. I have, after all, only been involved in politics for just over a year. And every single day, I find myself learning something new. So in all hones- ty, I don't believe I am political- ly 'mature' enough, yet, for that kind of responsibility. But to answer you more di- rectly: there is another reason why I don't even consider tak- ing that step: either now, or in future. There is already a leader of the Nationalist Party: Ber- nard Grech.... Sorry to sneak in a follow-up question, but... Bernard Grech has already lost the PN one election. What sense does it make to go into the next one, under a leader who has al- ready been rejected by the electorate? I hear what you're saying, but... fact remains that Bernard Grech is still the leader of the Nationalist Party. And besides: even if he lost the election last March, he was still re-elected to the post of the PN leader, by the party executive. Effectively, that makes him the PN leader; and I am someone who deeply believes in 'loyalty', at the end of the day. Yes: in fact, you were loyal to former PN leader Adrian Delia, too... That's precisely the point I was coming to. When Adrian was still party leader, I remained loyal to him, until literally 'the last breath'. And from the mo- ment that Bernard Grech be- came party leader: I did exactly the same thing. I am every bit as loyal, to today's PN leader, as I was when the leader was some- one else... Don't you see any contradic- tion in that, though (given all the animosity that was in- volved, in the transition from one leader to the other)? No, I don't. Because to be perfectly honest: I don't look at things like 'personalities', or 'individuals'. I look at the em- blem of the Nationalist Party; and above all, I look at at the Maltese flag. Because for as long as we remain stuck, at the lev- el of 'this personality, against that personality'.... not only will we be weakening the Opposi- tion party; but also, abdicating our responsibility towards the country, as a whole. It is, after all, our responsibil- ity, as Nationalist MPs, to pro- vide a strong, healthy and ef- fective Opposition, against the excesses of today's Labour gov- ernment. And that – along with Gozo, naturally – is going to be my only focus, from now on.