Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/248536
13 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 26 JANUARY 2014 PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD In between jellyfish stings and online attacks by supporters of her own party, Labour MP Marlene Farrugia has had a rough 2014 of it so far. She explains her reservations on the citizenship scheme, and why she is retiring from politics foment anti-EU sentiment. Still, I would say the Maltese still believe in the concept of the EU as a whole. Our role is to make our voice heard so that those values are always in place… and not selectively, as happened now." But it would seem that Marlene Farrugia will not be adding her own voice to that effort for very much longer. Recent press reports suggest she may be considering hanging her political boots when her government's term is up in 2018. Is this true? And if so, is there any connection with her apparent exasperation at the administration's mishandling of the IIP issue – and possibly other issues too – not to mention the tirades of insults from her own party supporters? "Yes, I can confirm that I will not be contesting the next election," she promptly replies… but just as promptly adds that it has nothing to do with the ongoing altercation over the IIP scheme, or any form of disenchantment with her party or government. "It's a decision I took before. I've done my 10 years in parliament, it's now time to make way for new blood..." Paradoxically some might consider Marlene Farrugia herself to be new blood, at least within the ranks of the PL… "Oh, I'm always new blood," she replies with a smile, "because I keep myself interested in things. But there are other things I want to do in life; I can contribute in other ways apart from politics…" At the risk of echoing corner gossip, there have all along been rumours that part of her apparent disillusionment with politics stems from her own omission from the Cabinet of Ministers, having been passed over – as it were – in favour of her husband Godfrey Farrugia (now Health Minister). According to legend, Joseph Muscat had approached them both separately with ministerial offers, and both had accepted… Marlene Farrugia smiles as she corrects 'legend' on a few details. "I was never offered the health ministry," she asserts. "We had spoken about it, and I had suggested to Joseph Muscat that he appoint Godfrey. He's a hard worker, incorruptible, devoted to patients…" At this point I think we can safely exclude that the jellyfish encounter had anything to do with her decision to leave politics, either. But there is another possibility. Being one of the very few politicians to have militated in both parties and on both sides of the house… could it also be that she is disillusioned with Maltese politics as a whole? And will she take any regrets with her when she goes? "I'm not disappointed, no. But there is one sore point. I find it a shame that we've remained so divided as a nation after all these years… it's as though we're constantly stuck, and have to keep bringing up things that happened 20, 30 or 50 years ago. Do we really want to go back there, time and again? We are still feeling the wounds that were inflicted on society to this day… We should remember what unites us, and not only what keeps us divided. We can't forget that, either; it's too important to forget. So let's remember, forgive and try to learn something from it all." But her own recent experiences also seem to suggest that old prejudices die hard. "I will dedicate what energy I have left to try and neutralise that... and I think I've already shown it is perfectly possible to remain the same person, regardless of political affiliation."