Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/244624
13 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 19 JANUARY 2014 PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD The PN is fielding former television presenter Norman Vella in the European elections. A controversial figure on television, Vella claims to be the people's voice, but what does he stand for? Asked to expand on this, he says that that Malta is portraying itself as a country which has given up on attracting investment and creating wealth. "A country which gives an impression that it has given up, a country so desperate that it has resorted to selling passports and has received bruising slap in the face in the international press and the European Parliament will not attract investment. Would you invest in such a country? I guess not." Claiming that Malta's reputation has been tarnished, and that the scheme will cost the country much more than €1 billion the government is expecting to rake in, Vella slams the Prime Minister for "giving up" and giving the wrong impression – that Malta is bankrupt. Turning to migration, Vella possibly exposes himself to an onslaught from the anti-migration camp, when he says: "I refuse to describe immigrants as a burden. People are not a burden. If we want to convince other countries to open their doors to migrants who enter Europe through Malta, we need to shift our discourse from one of burden to one of opportunity." "What I cannot understand is that when we joined the EU, one of the most appealing factors was the fact that it had no internal borders. I can travel freely, goods and services can also be exported freely. However, we have built a wall for migrants. My aim is to demolish this wall and they can decide where to go and the markets will also adjust. We either believe in freedom and the free market or not – we cannot be selective. We need opportunity sharing and not burden sharing. Naturally, migrants will relocate to countries where jobs are available." Do others back his views within the PN? "I was born in a divided Europe and I voted to join an EU with no borders. I believe in a Europe which should grant freedom for all, not only goods and services. Once a migrant enters Europe they should be able to move freely within the Schengen zone. Is it far fetched? No, we (the EU) created the problem, and we can resolve it," he says in reference to the Dublin convention which stipulates that asylum applications can only be processed in the country of entry. Warning that the PN should not expect to win elections by default, Vella proposes the creation of a structure within the party to assist individuals and civil society on all matters European. "I propose the creation of an office which assists organisations to tap into European funds, which would help such organisations create jobs and strengthen their structures. The PN could and should be a bridge linking citizens to European institutions." Will the PN elect three MEPs for the first time ever? Vella unflinch- ingly says, "yes" and retains that the people have an opportunity to "send a message". But should voters cast their ballots to pull somebody's ears or should they vote for a person or party they believe in? "I always believed in the people. People vote for whatever reason they choose and our job is to understand their message and subsequently shape our vision for tomorrow," he replies. "The PN paid a high price for its errors and its now time to look forward and shape its policies for future elections. We have to listen to the people and understand their aspirations, otherwise we will stay in opposition for ever."