Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1516411
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 25 FEBRUARY 2024 6 INTERVIEW Eve Borg Bonello: 'If people want and elect them, 16-year-olds should be mayors' MALTA'S youngest MP in history, Eve Borg Bonello, believes youths should have a central role in politics, no matter their age. Borg Bonello, who is climate change spokesperson for the Opposition sits down with MaltaToday just days after parliament approved at Second Read- ing stage the formation of a Climate Action Authority. When asked on the newly formed authority, the MP says it was a right decision by government, despite it shooting down a similar proposal by the Opposition back in 2019. "But at least now government is on- board with the idea and has decided to move it forward. What I am a bit sceptical about is the timing when it was announced – during the week- long blackouts we had in summer," she says. Questioned on what the Opposition would have done differently, Borg Bonello says it would have carried out more consultation with stakeholders and NGOs, as well as the active partic- ipation of experts in the field. She also says the Nationalist Party wants qualified people to form part of the board. "But that is not enough. That should be the minimal requirement for every government board. What we want is their active contribution of these indi- viduals in the compliance and legisla- tion of every ministry so that climate change considerations are made in the majority of decisions which impact climate change," she insists. Borg Bonello is the youngest MP to ever get elected to parliament and contrary to some voices within her own party, she agrees that 16-year- olds should be eligible for mayors. The legislative change was approved last year and will be applicable from the next round of local elections in June. Several figures within the PN, in- cluding a few MPs, had come out against the law, citing the immaturity of 16-year-olds in leading the council. But Borg Bonello believes that no matter their age, youths have a central role to play in politics. "It is the people who decide who their leaders are, and if they decide that they want a 16-year-old mayor why not? They could be 17-years-olds, 18-years-old, if they are able to lead the council, they should be mayor," she says. "We vote, or at least I hope so, not according to what gender or age the candidate has, but whether they are capable or not." She says despite some people's per- ception, the Nationalist Party provides young people with the space they need to voice their views and concerns. "We have two youth wings which ca- ter for youths of different ages," she says. "That I think says a lot about the space given to young voices within the party." Eve Borg Bonello is Malta's youngest MP in history. She sits down with Online Editor KARL AZZOPARDI to talk about the newly formed Climate Action Authority, 16-year-old mayors and the Nationalist Party's approach to young voices in politics.