Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545063
10 maltatoday | MONDAY • 25 MAY 2026 OPINION AT some point in every coun- try's story, people begin asking themselves a simple but impor- tant question: Is this really the best we can become? I ask myself that question of- ten. I am 34 years old. I am a hus- band, a father to an 11-month- old son, a lawyer, and now a political candidate because I genuinely believe Malta de- serves better, and because I cannot spend the next 20 years complaining about the direction of our country without trying to help change it. When I look at my son, I do not think about politics. I think about the Malta he will grow up in. Will he inherit a country where success is measured only by cranes, permits and econom- ic statistics? Or will he inherit a country where quality of life matters just as much as econom- ic growth? A Malta where peo- ple can afford to live well, raise families, breathe cleaner air, and still recognise the communities they call home? Because somewhere along the way, many people began feeling that Malta lost its balance. Yes, our economy grew. No- body can deny that. But growth on its own is not enough if peo- ple feel exhausted, trapped in traffic for hours every day, bur- dened by rising costs, frustrated by relentless overdevelopment, and increasingly disconnected from the identity and beauty that once made Malta feel spe- cial. A strong economy should serve people, not the other way around. That is why I believe in a just and fair economy—one that rewards hard work, creates meaningful opportunities, sup- ports families and businesses, protects the vulnerable, and in- vests in sectors capable of gen- erating long-term prosperity instead of short-term gain. Preserving our country does not mean resisting progress. It means understanding that true progress must be sustainable. It means recognising that eco- nomic success and quality of life are not enemies. They must go hand in hand. We need to protect our envi- ronment, our communities, our heritage and our identity while continuing to build an econo- my that can thrive for genera- tions to come. That means investing more seriously in innovation, edu- cation, technology and quality jobs. It means creating indus- tries that allow young people to build their future here in Mal- ta, not forcing them to leave in search of better opportunities elsewhere. We need a Malta that grows with vision, not without limits. A Malta where development is intelligent and planned. Where public spaces are protected. Where institutions regain peo- ple's trust. Where honesty mat- ters again. Where leadership listens more than it shouts. I believe many people today are tired, tired of division, tired of arrogance, tired of feeling that politics has become dis- connected from everyday real- ities. Too often, we are told we must choose between econom- ic growth and quality of life, as though the two cannot exist to- gether. But they can. Malta does not need to lose itself in order to succeed. We can build a country that is prosperous and fair. Mod- ern, yet still rooted in its iden- tity. Ambitious, yet responsible. Open to investment and oppor- tunity, while still protecting the things that truly matter. We must preserve the good in this country while investing seriously in its future, not only in economic terms, but also in terms of our society, our values and our sense of national iden- tity. And yes, perhaps trusting a younger and fresher generation of leaders feels like a risk. Per- haps some people still believe leadership only comes with age, seniority or political longevity. But every meaningful change in history began because people dared to believe something bet- ter was possible. Whilst I am not new to Mal- tese elections, having contested the 2022 general election with- out being elected, I am more convinced than ever that Malta needs a new direction and a new generation willing to lead with courage, honesty and purpose. Take the rise of Alex Borg to the leadership of the National- ist Party. Many initially doubt- ed whether someone of his age and relatively limited leader- ship experience could unite the party or inspire the country. Yet only months into his leadership tenure and weeks into a snap election campaign, people are beginning to believe again. His energy, determination and hun- ger to steer the ship safely to port have inspired many to dream that politics can once again become a force for renewal rather than di- vision. People are not looking for per- fection. They are looking for sin- cerity. They want leaders who understand their daily struggles, who speak honestly, and who care about the kind of country we are leaving behind for the next generation. That is the Malta I want my son to inherit. A country that gives people hope again. A country where families can dream again. A country where young people feel optimistic about building their future here. A country that gives the next generation the space to truly breathe. That is the Malta I believe in. And that is the Malta I want us to build together. That is what Nifs Ġdid (A Fresh Start) means to me. Not simply a slogan, but a belief—a belief that Malta's best chapter can still be written if we have the courage to write it together. Joseph Grech The Malta I believe in PN election candidate for the 11 and 12 districts I am more convinced than ever that Malta needs a new direction and a new generation willing to lead with courage, honesty and purpose ELECTION 2026