Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1501675
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 JUNE 2023 9 INTERVIEW big' happy about that. Mina Tolu has now taken over the task of training and... let's say, 'nurtur- ing' these young, enthusiastic people: which already gives me a lot of hope for the future. And from there - later on – we will also unveil our latest batch of candidates for the lo- cal council elections. This is, in fact, what I've been working on the most. I had a specific target in mind, for the number of can- didates we want to field next year. And so far, I've managed to reach that target... What was that target, specif- ically? For the moment, we're aiming for 10 candidates: bearing in mind, of course, that right now we don't have any local coun- cillors, anywhere... That pre-empts a question I was going to ask anyway. His- torically, AD has always con- centrated its efforts only on a handful of districts. Name- ly, the 9th, 10th and 11th: i.e, Sliema, St Julian's and Gzira. This is perhaps understand- able, given the party's back- ground. But doesn't that also limit the party's reach, only to a certain demographic? And would you agree that there is an element of 'classism', in AD's current appeal? Oh, yes. I've heard that as a critique, before. There was a point in time where it was ar- guably justified, too. AD was, in fact, associated with this sort of classist, elitist stance: even on certain issues. But I'm definite- ly not like that, myself. I don't want any of that; I don't want even a whiff of it, to be honest. I come from a working class family; and I've struggled all my life. And this is not some kind of 'tear-jerking' story, by the way. It's my reality. I DO come from a working class family.... and a such, I know the value of every single cent. And I know the value of the working class, and the respect that it deserves. Especially now: because at this point in our history, I think it's being used and abused too much by the system. And I know how it feels, be- cause I've been there. I've lived through it. It's not easy to live from hand to mouth; it's not easy to tell your children that you have to wait for the next pay-cheque, to get them what- ever it is they want: be it new running shoes, something for school, etc. So definitely, that elitist thing is not on my agen- da at all. Do you think it may have af- fected AD's performance in the past? Probably, yes. But to be hon- est, I'm not very into AD's history; because I'm looking forward, not backwards. I still admire certain things, like the way the party used to protest about certain issues in the past; they were much more 'exciting' in those days, if you know what I mean. But I honestly think that now, the way forward is to be more grounded; more down to earth; and closer to the people... espe- cially, the working class people, because that's the the section of society which is being ne- glected the most. Because now, the 'classist' attitude is coming from the Labour Party: which is very obviously governing only for a select few. And the rest of us have to bear the brunt, of the greed of this 'select few'. The only thing 'we' get, out of all this, is all the dust, noise and traffic; while 'they' are there to collect pay-cheques. And this is being felt across the country: because I get phone-calls from literally all parts of Malta and Gozo, with examples of the same kind of greed and abuse... and always by the same people. It's always the same names that keep cropping up, in all these episodes of abuse. In a nutshell: on one hand, there's a new 'elite class' of building contractors, and pow- erful businessmen; and on the other, there's... 'just us'. And it's all getting too much, now... Interestingly enough, anoth- er criticism often levelled at Alternattiva Demokratika (by Nationalists) in the past, is that the Green Party 'only ever took votes away from the PN, and not Labour'... [Laughing] Not this time! Well, that's precisely what I'm coming to. It seems you are now consciously striking out in the opposite direction: trying to appeal more to dis- illusioned Labour voters, than Nationalists. Am I right? And is this a deliberate strategy, on your own part? Yes, totally. And up to a point, it's also inevitable, really: be- cause when you're trying to get closer to the people - which is something we're currently working on; and which is al- ready giving results - you tend to choose those topics which are much closer to the people's needs; and to concentrate on those issues that are being 'felt', the most. So where the PL is lacking, we are trying to fill in the void; and – with all humility – I think people are noticing this. And yes: this is something we are ac- tively working on. We are try- ing to adopt these 'orphaned' PL supporters - and National- ists, too; even though, let's face it, the Labour supporters are a bit angrier, right now... And I see nothing wrong, myself - though I know some people out there hate this word – with giving a 'socialist tinge' to our policies: by taking care of the most vulnerable ['batut']; the marginalised; the deprived; the people on minimum wage, and all that. Because if we want to elevate our society, we have to start from the bottom up. We are living in a society where the people at the top have... well, 'all the money', basically; while the people at the bottom are struggling from pay-cheque to pay-cheque. And that is some- thing which needs to change. We are trying to bring about this change, by being vocal about it; and by acting on it. And this is something which people are noticing. People with a Labour background are beginning realising that... AD is now the party that more or less shares their own principles; while 'their own' party, Labour, clearly doesn't any more. Because let's be honest: when you look at how Labour has developed, over the last 10- years... it doesn't take very long to realise that there's nothing really 'left', of 'The Left'. One last question: in that oth- er interview, you were eva- sive about whether or not you intended you relinquish your candidacy for next year's MEP elections. 'We'll cross that bridge when we come to it', you said. Have you reached any final decision, yet? The fact that I'm contesting the MEP election is confirmed, and even approved by the exec- utive. So... I'm there! My name is on that list... So you're confirming, from now, that your name will be on the ballot sheet, in June 2024? Yes, definitely. Do you not see any contradic- tion, however, between the roles of MEP, and party lead- er? Well... let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. Don't for- get that I first have to get elect- ed, before any of that actually becomes an issue. But, in the hypothetical scenario where I DO get elected... no, I don't really see any contradiction, myself. For one thing, the Green Party's statute (both local and European) allows for the possi- bility of having a 'co-chair': in other words, the party would effectively have two leaders, at the same time. This is, perhaps, something very 'new', for Mal- ta. I don't think it's ever hap- pened, before. But it's doable; and in fact, other Green Parties already do it, as we speak. And besides: if, in theory, I do get elected MEP... it would also mean I'd have an 'extra power', so to speak: because I'd be able to bring up Malta's issues in the European Parliament, too. In fact, I think that the expe- rience one gets from being in the European Parliament, can only add value to anyone who aspires to lead a political party into a general election: hope- fully, with a chance of success. So no: I don't see see any con- flict between the two roles, at all...