Nationalist councillors go to the polls today to elect a new leader. But where do the four candidates stand on ideological and policy issues? Bertrand Borg finds out.

Describe your political ideology in three words.

Raymond Bugeja: Conservative with a liberal heart, capitalist with a social heart.

Simon Busuttil: I am a person of the centre.

Mario de Marco: De Gasperi’s centre-left.

Francis Zammit Dimech: Close to the people.

Do people who earn more have a moral obligation to contribute more taxes?

Bugeja: They already would with the same tax rate.

They should instead be encouraged to earn even more so as to invest and spend, thus favouring employment growth.

Busuttil: Yes. They already do.

De Marco: Yes, in relative proportion to the people who earn less, but not to the extent that strangles entrepreneurship and desire for growth.

Zammit Dimech: Yes.

Is Malta’s euro membership absolute?

Bugeja: Very few things are absolute – the euro is not.

Busuttil: Nothing is absolute. But Malta’s EU membership is the best thing that has happened to our country since Independence.

De Marco: Few things in life are absolute. Undoubtedly, Malta gained a lot by adopting the euro and we should remain part of the eurozone to ensure a higher level of economic certainty and attractiveness.

Zammit Dimech: Yes, in the sense that it has been crucial for our economy to move ahead and it would be disastrous for anyone considering departing from it.

Illegal immigration: do we need to get tougher or move towards integration policies?

Bugeja: We need to get tougher with the unfair burden we have because of our geography, and integrate those we should fairly keep.

Busuttil: We need to be strict with those who are staying illegally because we cannot have a free-for-all.

But we also need to be humane with those who need international protection and therefore have a right to stay here.

Those who have a right to stay here need to be integrated.

De Marco: The phenomenon of illegal immigration needs to be seen primarily from the humane point of view.

We are talking about vulnerable people who risk their lives to seek a better future.

We have a responsibility to act and we have to act responsibly, which means we also need to factor in the realities of our society and our rights as an EU member in identifying the most suitable solutions.

Zammit Dimech: There are limits to our carrying capacity and that is why Malta has always insisted on the concept of European solidarity.

The issue should not be seen only from our perspective but from that of all European countries acting together.

Will hunting still be around in 10 years’ time?

Bugeja: I doubt it.

Busuttil: Certainly in autumn. As for spring, if the Labour government allows rampant abuse it will spell the end of the limited spring hunting season that we negotiated after fighting it out in the European Court.

De Marco: Hunting has been around for centuries and its disappearance in the foreseeable future is therefore unlikely in the absence of issues related to sustainability.

Zammit Dimech: I presume it will still be around.

Gay marriage and adoption? Gay marriage? Civil union? Or none? Where do you sit along this spectrum?

Bugeja: Civil union, and subject to expert medical advice in the child’s interests, adoption.

Busuttil: Marriage should remain reserved for a man and woman. But short of that, we should definitely legalise same-sex partnerships, giving adequate rights to the gay community. As for adoption, this is already possible.

De Marco: Civil union.

Zammit Dimech: I am not in favour of gay marriage but understand and respect the fact that our society needs to relate to new needs, and I believe we need to relate to all, irrespective of their orientation.

Civil union appears to be the right option for our society at this stage.

Adoption should be allowed provided that as in all cases of adoption, the best interests of the child prevail over all other considerations.

If you could pass one law with a click of your fingers, what would it be?

Bugeja: A more severe law against cruelty to animals.

Busuttil: At the moment, the most important thing for the country is to pass the Budget in full and get on with it. So I would go for that.

De Marco: I would legislate in the most absolute of ways against all forms of discrimination.

Zammit Dimech: A law to further promote culture and the arts and ensure that those in these sectors receive all the required backing and assistance from the State.