Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544987
THIS IS A PAID COLLABORATION Glenn Bedingfield 1. Looking back at your term, what do you consider your most significant achievement and what impact has it had on people's lives? We made decisions with one clear aim—making people's lives easier and better. With BCRS, we thought of our elderly and removed the inconvenience by bringing the service directly to their doorstep. Comfort, respect, and peace of mind is the society we believe in. We worked across all our communities to create a cleaner, more pleasant envi- ronment. Cleanliness is about appear- ance, people's health, quality of life, and wellbeing. Our commitment is to listen, under- stand, and act. A politics that starts with the people and ends with the people. 2. Looking back, is there any deci- sion you would have taken different- ly? What would you change? In politics, there are various moments when you think you could have done things differently. However, every deci- sion I take, I try to take in the best inter- est of the people. Sometimes we can be blunt in our speeches. There were occa- sions when I was blunt and could have been less so. 3. What are the three most urgent challenges the country will face in the next five years? Geopolitical instability has a direct im- pact on Malta, and only a Labour gov- ernment can guarantee protection for families and workers. Our track record speaks for itself. We have among the lowest energy prices in the EU because, thanks to a strong economy, we have provided subsidies and will continue to do so. Another challenge is the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and its impact on the way we live and work. But we can transform this challenge into an oppor- tunity. The global challenge of climate change affects our country and we need to con- tinue investing as we have already done in solar and wind energy. Others want to build a petrol station 14 miles off Mar- saskala, with all the risks, including en- vironmental ones, that this would bring. A new Labour government will continue to invest in green and clean energy. 4. What led you to contest the elec- tion? The belief that a country's success is measured by the lives of its people. What motivates me is the belief in a fair- er, stronger, and more equal Malta. As a Labour Party politician, I believe in pro- gress and in the fair distribution of the wealth we create. Social justice is at the heart of all this. I am in politics to bring about real change and to give a voice to those who do not have one. This is why I am contesting with the Labour Party. 5. Name an issue you are particularly passionate about, and why? I am a Labourite and a socialist because I believe that every person has the right to live with dignity, the right to have a decent standard of living, good educa- tion, and decent work. I believe in social justice where no one should exploit an- other, in a society where the wealth cre- ated belongs to the people and is fairly distributed. I believe in opportunities open to everyone, regardless of who you are or where you come from. I believe in a society that measures its success by the condition of its most vulnerable mem- bers. I believe in an inclusive society be- cause an exclusive one can never move forward. 6. Outside of politics, how do you like to spend your free time? I enjoy staying at home or somewhere quiet. Being with family is the best time, whether at home or when we meet at my mother's house. I enjoy reading about current affairs and watching TV. Quickfire Q&A Lorna Borg Vassallo 1. As a candidate what fresh ideas do you bring to Malta's political sys- tem? My background and work are legal however I also benefit from experience in tourism and education. Apart from that I have been active in politics and as a journalist for more than 23 years already. These qualities help me to see Malta's challenges, whether present or future, in a holistic way. Thanks to the languages that I understand and speak, on the other hand, I am not always re- stricted to look at economic/political models from English-speaking coun- tries but also tend to follow models/ ideas stemming from other languages, such as French- and German-speaking countries. Once this knowledge comes together with my experience at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, it gives me a wider perspective of certain situations. As a person who lives alone, I also think of people like me, and the challenges they face in life. I think these people need to be given more attention by our society. Apart from all this, inspite of my long experience I think I still have the necessary enthusiasm that would give me renewed impetus as a female member of parliament. 2. What are the three pressing chal- lenges facing the country in the next five years? An increase in population especial- ly resulting from an ever-growing in- flux of foreigners living in Malta, and more tourism. Infrastructure and the environment that catch up with the demands of a growing population and tourists, not only with regards to roads but also water and electricity supply. Reconciliation between the interests of business people and those of citi- zens/residents. 3. Why did you decide to run for the election? My father ran for the election dur- ing different times. I started getting involved in politics from the age of 18 or younger. I have contested four elections prior to now—three na- tional elections in 2003, 2008 and 2013, and the European election in 2019. At least in two elections I could have been elected in the by-election. In the EP election I got the third larg- est amount of votes from all female candidates. During those elections the gender corrective mechanism did not exist. Obviously, this time I have more possibilities than before to be elected and I said let's give it 4. What is one issue you are most personally passionate about, and why? Special leave for and the rights of single persons/parents living alone, including separated or divorced people, widows and widowers. Of course these are the most vulnerable and at risk of experiencing poverty. In England they have the Ministry of Loneliness and in Germany the government has a National Strategy to Counter Loneliness. Contrary to what most think, loneliness in Eu- rope is not only predominant in the elderly but also among youth and relates to political disengagement, belief in conspiracy theories, polit- ical extremism as well as radicalism and terrorism. I'm also quite passion- ate about a re-modelling exercise of matrimonial regimes which are very much related to loneliness. Every married person can end up alone one day and legislators must ensure during marriage itself that they do not themselves lead couples into fi- nancial difficulties and isolation. 5. Outside of politics, how do you like spending your free time? Travelling, reading, studying lan- guages, historical re-enactments and singing. maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 MAY 2026 LABOUR PARTY LABOUR PARTY