These are Momentum's election candidates

Momentum has announced its seven candidates for the forthcoming general election, who will all contest two districts.

The party said the candidates included professionals from “diverse backgrounds, united by a shared commitment to good governance, environmental protection, and economic justice”.

Valletta community activist Billy McBee will run on the first and sixth districts, academic Matthew Agius will run on the second and eight and software engineer and party secretary general Mark Camilleri Gambin on the third and eleventh districts.

Mathematician Alastair Farrugia will contest the fourth and fifth districts, while professor Pierre Schembri-Wismayer will run in districts seven and 10.

Longtime vocal activist and party chairperson Arnold Cassola will contest the ninth and tenth districts, while retired banker and party treasurer Carmel Asciak will run in districts 12 and 13.

Momentum has announced its seven candidates. Image: Momentum.

Announcing the list of candidates, Cassola described one-third of the electorate as feeling “politically orphaned”.

“They are tired of choosing between two parties that have taken turns running this country into the ground while rewarding their own”, he said.

“Our candidates are not career politicians. They are medical doctors, scientists, entrepreneurs, academics and professionals who have stepped forward because they believe Malta deserves better.”

Reiterating the party’s campaign slogan Bidla ta’ Vera (“Real change”), Cassola said that a vote for Momentum was “a vote for the Malta you actually want to live in. A Malta characterised by beauty and a just and caring society”.

The announcement of the all-male list led to some criticism. 

Asked about this, Momentum’s Mark Camilleri Gambin said: “We would love to have candidates of all genders on our list. Unfortunately, there are bigger barriers in life which make it more difficult for women to take this step”.