A note for the floater

Time is a fickle friend, rarely stretching as far as we hope, and we navigate the circumstances it imposes. Few situations are truer in this regard than in politics – time crawls under negative scrutiny yet flies uncontrollably during an electoral campaign. There is a palpable buzz driven by the relentless activities, social media updates, announcements and messaging that borders on the chaotic.

I, therefore, have to choose how to best dedicate my time in a very short electoral campaign to maximise its impact, no matter how small it may be. And it is with this in mind that I choose to address the Maltese floating voter – our brave citizens who manage to engage in Maltese politics, sifting through the noise and rhetoric, and remain engaged in the democratic process without belonging to a political party.

They represent a big part of the undecided voter cohort − mostly young, middle-class, hard-working citizens striving to meet personal, professional and financial goals. They listen, evaluate and wait to be convinced. I appeal to their good sense of judgement to look beyond the spectacle.

We are, alas, in the midst of another electoral campaign – a whole year earlier than expected. No clear cause for the early election is evident. It remains baffling to have a party in government with such a strong mandate feeling the need to go to the polls early. Perhaps the government realised that the estimated 20% left of the promises made in the previous elections are not feasible to accomplish in the coming year. In many peoples’ opinion, that 20% of promises remain the fundamental reason for voting Labour in 2022 – the metro, the planned open spaces and national parks, the switch to clean energy and the €700 million promise to turn Malta green, among other things.

Perhaps it is the general feeling that, somehow, the government rhetoric of good economic performance is not translating into better quality of life. Perhaps it’s the constant stream of scandal that has become so synonymous with the Labour government over the years. No matter the reason, at this stage, the government has decided to call elections early and send us all on a rollercoaster ride of smokescreens and promises – what the finance minister aptly called “silly season”.

I come, therefore, to my appeal. Yes, we all engage in the theatrics – how else do you run an electoral campaign against a party in government who has lost all sense of separation of government and political party? A government that blatantly abuses the power of incumbency to flood our streets with banners and billboards, in a marketing campaign worthy of giant multinational corporations.

But behind the theatrics, the pantomime and the speeches, listen to the message being passed on – ‘Nifs ġdid’. Arguably the thing our country needs more than anything else now is a new take on matters, a new ideology, a new way of doing things. And that is where Partit Nazzjonalista (PN) comes in.

Only the PN can generate the gravitas for technocrats, new politicians and people of good will to form a new government. It sure got me out of my comfort zone, usually the clinic tending to my patients and assuring their owners. I succumbed to the urge to contribute, to be part of the change I want to see. And the winds of change are truly blowing – Alex Borg has shook the ground on which the current government stands, now in panic at the possibility of losing its grip on the seat of power.

We need change now, to have peace of mind of a better, sustainable future

Much is at stake, but the main concern is the future direction of this country. Can we steer away from an economy in overdrive to an economy based on sustainable growth? The PN has already committed to a labour market study that will steer away from an economy of numbers to one that is structured, sustainable and ensures quality of life.

Can we steer away from nepotism and cronyism? The PN has championed stricter code of conducts for people in power, mechanisms to curb over-exertion of incumbency and improve transparency for the public in all political and state affairs.

Can we steer away from politics driven by propaganda to renewed trust in the political class of our island? The PN has been campaigning on the ground for years. Our policies are driven by the people. Many of us candidates are new and come from diverse backgrounds, able to represent and govern within their respective fields.

Can we preserve our identity and rebuild our reputation? Of course we can, we are Maltese and proud. Our nation has overcome challenges of every shape and size, and we must do so again. Together.

With many of my newfound friends in the PN, I am doing my bit – working to change the direction our country has been set on. I don’t think we should wait five years to change the economic model or 15 years to see a shift in our transport model. The costs are too much to even consider – our health, our mental well-being, the time we lose just waiting in traffic.

We need change now, to have peace of mind of a better, sustainable future. To have a country we are proud to live in and happy to enjoy. To have politics we trust, and faith that we can achieve so much together.

I would like a country I can enjoy and give my children a future in. I am a 37-year-old married father of two. A veterinarian working in the field of animal care in Malta, a sector that has been poorly managed and borderline neglected for the past years. I feel your burdens and I share your frustrations. I am also a new candidate, currently working on the 3rd and 7th districts with many of my helpers to reach out and pass on this message of hope and change.

This government has no real solutions to the frustrations we face today, partly because it created most of them in the first place and partly because, in my view, they have no real interest in even engaging with the real problems we face.

The time for waiting is over. We need a breath of fresh air. A new take on things. A better way forward. Partit Nazzjonalista can lead the way – we only need the chance to do so. And that decision lies with you, dear floater.

Andrew Agius is a vet and new PN candidate.