As published on the Times of Malta: 22/01/2014.
The Nationalist Party is close to finalising its list of candidates for the European Parliament elections. I am honoured to again be on the same list that includes seasoned and respected politicians, entrepreneurs with international standing, young professionals, persons from the media – the fourth pillar of democracy – and people who have given a strong contribution to the local business community.
It is a list that is representative of the excellent calibre of people present in Maltese society.
There are a number of unifying factors that bring us together.
First of all, we believe in, truly believe in, what the European Union stands for. We are on this list because of our conviction that Malta’s future is intrinsically linked with that of the European Union. We are Maltese and we are Europeans and our rightful place is in the heart of Europe.
We are convinced that Malta has a lot to gain and to offer from participating in the Union. We understand that the European Parliament is also the Parliament of the Maltese.
I do not see the same level of conviction in the Labour Party. The Labour Party, much as it would like us to believe otherwise, at best only tolerates the European Union. As we have seen time and again, Labour is more comfortable taking an “us” versus “them” approach to the EU.
As Nationalist Party MEPs and candidates, we believe in Europe just as we equally believe in Malta’s potential to be among the best performing countries. The PN is fielding candidates who refuse to feel limited by the size of our country or by the fact that we are an island.
A glance through the candidate list shows people who, within their area of competence, worked hard to make a name for themselves. People who carved a future for themselves. People who are not afraid to be different if by different one remains true to his or her beliefs and convictions. People who were never afraid to stick their necks out. People who have principles and stood by those principles through thick and thin.
People who on a daily basis provide work and income for Maltese families. People who do not need to be in politics. People who look at politics as a means to serve not as a career, as a calling to further the interests of the country and not to further one’s personal interests.
There are people who contributed to Malta’s wellbeing and who have more to offer, who can give so much to this country, to the EU and to the Nationalist Party.
The party’s rejuvenation process launched following last year’s electoral defeat needs time but some positive results have already started to emerge.
In this process, the Nationalist Party is being unwittingly aided by the Labour government which, despite its strong majority support, decided to ignore its pre-electoral promises.
Labour’s rallying call of Malta Tagħna Lkoll has heralded a style of politics that is regressive and runs against European Union ideals. Lack of transparency, arrogance, nepotism in its worst possible forms, total disrespect for the environment, political interference in administrative affairs and near total disregard for European values are the order of the day. In just 10 months this government has lowered the standards of politics and Malta’s reputation to previously unseen levels.
Despite the pre-electoral claims that this will be the best government this country ever had and the promise that we will be the best performing country in Europe, Malta is now only mentioned in the international press as a country that insists on selling its citizenship to people with no real ties or genuine link to the country.
While our passports and values are up for sale our exports are going down while this government persists in dragging Malta’s reputation through the dirt by ignoring everyone and insisting on ramming through this cash-for-passports scheme. This is the legacy of 10 months of Labour.
In just 10 months this government has lowered the standards of politics and Malta’s reputation to previously unseen levels
The Nationalist Party ticket is clear proof that the party’s change process is starting to have the desired effect. Our mission is to ensure that Malta’s voice in Europe continues to grow stronger and that as a country we continue to contribute to the success of the European Union.
I am proud to form part of this team and look forward to working with all of them as we embark on this final lap.
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Roberta Metsola is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.
