Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1519725
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 APRIL 2024 7 INTERVIEW The following are excerpts from the interview. The full interview can be found on maltatoday.com.mt as well as our Facebook and Spotify pages. Scan this QR code to see the full interview. Why did you decide to contest the European Parliament elections? The idea to contest came about during the pandemic. My friend and I were doing a skit of a politician from the 'U mela żobb party'. This politician basically says yes to anything journalists and people ask him. When we finished, we sat down and said to ourselves: Could we do it? Then we looked at my social media numbers, the number of votes candidates need to get elected, and we said maybe there is a chance. People know you as a comedian, but now you're running for the MEP elections. How can people take you seriously; do you want people to take you seriously? Yes, I do. I am not ridiculing my candidature, or the candidates, I am ridiculing the system. People who are ready to vote for me, are fed up with the system. We are living within a screwed-up system, and the numbers show this. If you look at the surveys, you see a large chunk of the population who are saying they will not vote or do not know who they will vote for. This is a campaign I will take seriously, but I have always delivered my message using comedy, and that is what I will be doing; playing to my strengths. What is the demographic you are targeting? My campaign is for everyone. Obviously, there is a bigger appeal for youths, as the biggest cohort of non- voters comes from that demographic, but my message also appeals to an older demographic, and they tell me they want something different. You are going head-to-head with candidates from the big parties and the backing they receive. Their message in the media can be deliv- ered more efficiently and to a wider audience. How can you compete with that? No, I disagree. Not on all media; when it comes to social media, I think I have the edge. I can deliver my message to a wider audience, in my own style. So, you think you can go toe-to-toe with Labour's media presence for example? Yes, I believe I can. The advantage I have is that people are fed up with the same options. People may vote for me because they like my policies, but they will also vote for me to protest against the big parties. People will say: 'I prefer voting for this clown than for the others.' Are you a funny politician with a serious side, or a serious politician with a funny side? I don't want to be someone like Lord Buckethead or żaren tal-Ajkla, who promise ridiculous stuff. I have real policies which were drawn up after speaking with NGOs and different groups. When I present my manifesto, I need to make sure they are policies which people want and need... I will be joking about the system, and I will criticise the system. My second slogan is: Every circus needs a clown. People laugh because they say we have enough clowns in our political sphere – but at least I know I'm a clown unlike the rest of them. What if you get elected? Would it be a joke that has gone too far? No, it won't. If I do get elected, I will celebrate for a whole day, but the next day, it will be straight to work. PHOTOS: JAMES BIANCHI / MALTA TODAY