Former Labour MP Maria Camilleri will be contesting the European Parliament elections next year on behalf of the Malta Labour Party.
A headteacher, Ms Camilleri has been sidelined by the party since 1998 when the MLP lost re-election after only 22 months in office.
She said she was all set and ready to work in this role, an opportunity offered to her by the party's new leader Joseph Muscat soon after his election.
Contacted yesterday, Ms Camilleri confirmed her intention to contest, saying she wanted to take to Europe the experience she has gained as a Catholic head teacher of a Muslim school that, with determination, tolerance and respect all nations can work together.
"This is not my vision but my motive," she said adding that she believed in the need for a Mediterranean Union as Europe could work with Arab states to achieve peace and tolerance.
Ms Camilleri was elected to Parliament in the 1996 election following a casual election for the seat vacated by MP Evarist Bartolo who was elected from two districts.
Ms Camilleri was touted as forming part of the Dom Mintoff clan at the time when the former Labour leader had problems with Alfred Sant, then Prime Minister, even eventually leading Dr Sant to call an early election.
"This was not the case at all. So much so that I voted with my party and not with Mr Mintoff."
But at the outcome of the 1998 general election, when the Nationalist Party was returned to power, Mr Bartolo did not give up his seat in the 12th district but the seat in the 10th, blowing Ms Camilleri's chances of re-election.
She said that decision, which would have been taken by the party, made her realise that she was being sidelined. She, therefore, dedicated herself to her other love - education and has since made a success at the school she heads.
During the MLP's campaign for the election of a new leader, Ms Camilleri openly supported Marie Louise Coleiro Preca. "It was Ms Coleiro Preca who re-instilled in me the enthusiasm to work for the party."
She supported Ms Coleiro Preca because she believed in the importance of women and the need for women to be represented in positions of authority. This was another matter Ms Camilleri wanted to push and promote.
"We (women) have the same qualities as men and enjoy equal rights but, unfortunately, women are absent from certain positions. I want to help change that situation."
"When Joseph (Muscat) was elected as leader, the public relations officer called and informed me that the new leader would like me to be present for his first rally at the party headquarters on the Sunday following his election. "I told him I would be there. What happened at the rally was a surprise."
During the rally, Dr Muscat embraced Ms Camilleri, welcoming her and saying her role was at the centre and not at the periphery of the party.
Soon after that rally she had a private meeting with Dr Muscat when he told her that he meant what he had said and offered her several options, including the chance to contest the European Parliament elections on behalf of the MLP.