Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/286290
Opinion 25 A few months ago I wrote an article for this newspaper called "The return of the 36,000". It was about the ex- Nationalist or f loating voters who switched to Labour at the last election and gave Joseph Muscat the biggest electoral victory in Maltese history. I asked who they would choose to represent them in Europe today, given that they are a large enough group to elect an MEP singlehandedly. Are they still confident in Labour or have they found themselves losing faith in politicians once again? The MaltaToday survey shows many are undecided. But there is also another group we must consider: the new 36,000. The number is actually 37,112 and refers to all the people who are eligible to vote in this May's election but could not vote in the last MEP election in 2009. They too have the power to elect at least one MEP of their own. These are young people aged between 18 and 23, born between 1991 and 1996. They were not even teenagers during Malta's struggle to join the European Union. They are the young people who have grown up in Europe and who enjoy, perhaps even take for granted, some things that others only dreamed of at their age: freedom of movement throughout the EU, large amounts of EU funds and a country secure in its European identity. It is silly of us to expect gratitude from them. When I was a carefree boy in the 1980s and 1990s, I didn't spend much time appreciating the 1987 victory… However, they do have an opportunity. They have the opportunity to become a force with which to be reckoned. A voice that could swing elections. These are people who have largely been brought up in Labour or Nationalist households but who have not been confronted with enough major national issues to become polarised. A large number of them may have also seen their parents switch political allegiances over the past five years and will also not hesitate to experiment as well. Most importantly, they are digital natives: People who were born into the mobile phone era and who were already tech-savvy when smartphones exploded. Many of them consume international news more than local news, meaning they also have higher standards. They expect more from the media, for instance. They also demand better governance because they know what happens in other countries when a minister decides to change the way a tender was awarded. They know what happens when their country makes threats that go counter to human rights on the world stage. They are sensitive to environmental issues, from global warming to animal rights. But their connectivity also makes them distracted from the local scene and they have grown to associate Maltese politicians with petty bickering. Many are more interested in Mark Zuckerberg, Mario Balotelli and Miley Cyrus than Joseph Muscat, Simon Busuttil or Marie Louise Coleiro Preca. They are more interested in what's happening in Crimea than what's happening in Marsaxlokk. They'd rather hear about changes in our global environment than changes in our Cabinet. So what will they do in May? The reality is that many of them will probably leave it to the last minute or perhaps not vote at all. A large number of them voted for the first time in last year's election and may already regret it. Why spend half an hour of a precious Saturday to vote for someone you barely know? Why bother to spend weeks analysing the candidates if all politicians turn out to be the same? The new 36,000 will only vote if they see a point in doing so. They will vote if they think they can have a real impact and that their vote will count. More importantly, though, they will only vote if there is a candidate they can believe in. A candidate to whom they can relate, who speaks their language, who shares their values and who can inspire them. The good news about MEP elections is that it affects the very issues these young people are passionate about. MEP elections are not about petty local tribal politics. The people we elect to the European Parliament are not going there to argue over whether a road was finished in time. They are going there to affect international issues, to inf luence the direction of Europe, to negotiate with other MEPs and work out the best deals for Malta, while representing our island on an international stage. They can also make a real difference to Malta's euro-national issues such as immigration, youth unemployment and environmental sustainability. They can work to make EU funds more easily accessible to young people, for example. Your vote will not determine the party who governs the country for the next five years. Your vote will simply help determine which six people we send to the European Parliament to work together for Malta and the EU. It would be a pity to throw away your one chance in five years to choose someone who best represents you. In reality, most of the new 36,000 will probably not read this article at all. So if you agree that they can unite and make a real difference in this election, share this with them and get them thinking. The election is less than two months away and if they get involved, everything can change. Jonathan Shaw is a PN candidate for MEP maltatoday, SUNDAY, 30 MARCH 2014 The MaltaToday survey shows many are undecided... 36,000 young people who have grown up in Europe and who enjoy some things that others only dreamed of at their age They will vote if they think they can have a real impact Jonathan Shaw MCST 31/2014 - Call for tenders for the provision of Insurance Brokerage Services for the Malta Council for Science and Technology The Malta Council for Science and Technology is issuing a call for tenders for the provision of Insurance Brokerage Services for a period of three years. Tenders are to be submitted via http://www.etenders.gov.mt, by not later than 9.30 a.m (CET) of 22nd April 2014. Tender documents are obtainable from the Electronic Public Procurement System: http://www.etenders.gov.mt. More information is available from the FAQ section of the mentioned website. Late submissions will not be considered. The Malta Council For Science And Technology, Villa Bighi, Kalkara KKR 1320, Malta www.mcst.gov.mt LARA AD TEST.indd 2 26/03/2014 10:06:22 The rise of the new 36,000