Not your typical politician perhaps, but Prof. Joe Friggieri is a poet for the environment, a staunch defender of human rights, an animal lover, a committed European, who loves his country and wants to see it flourish, a keen debater who comes across well on television and is more than ready for what he calls the “battle of ideas”.
Sitting in his office at the university, the calm and soft-spoken philosophy professor has the ability to put anyone at ease and at the same time to project a firm and direct image of a public figure who knows where he is going. But coming as it does from someone who has never been associated with politics, what made him decide to enter the political fray?
“I had met Joe Saliba on a flight to Brussels and we agreed to meet on the Place Sablon. In his casual way, Joe asked me if I was interested in contesting. I was quite taken aback and had a couple of sleepless nights, but in the end I decided to accept the challenge.”
Asked why he accepted, he answered without hesitation.
“I believe in Europe. I took an active part in the EU referendum and the general election campaigns. Besides, I strongly believe that if we stayed out of the EU, it would have been a disaster.”
Professor Friggieri describes the free publicity we are receiving as a result of our EU bid as something quite extraordinary, and this, in itself, can have excellent consequences for our tourist industry.
Apart from teaching philosophy and contesting the European Parliament elections, Prof. Friggieri is also a poet, a playwright and an academic in his own right. Which of his many talents does he think will make him appeal most to the voter?
“People must judge me on my track record. They know what I stand for – I have always been staunchly in favour of Malta becoming a member of the European Union and I did all I could to see it happen. Maybe some voters will also remember what I’ve done for the cultural and social life of the country. I want to make a genuine contribution to the debate by working in EP committees that are best suited to my abilities,” Prof. Friggieri tells me.
The committees in which Prof. Friggieri would like to work are those dealing with the environment, public health and consumer policy, culture, youth, education, media and sport, as well as the committee on citizens’ rights and freedoms.
Our conversation then turned to Malta’s economic prospects.
“I firmly believe that there is a strong link between jobs and education. The Lisbon strategy had expressed the need for full employment. We have the lowest employability rate for women in Europe, but where qualified university graduates are concerned, the chances of gainful employment for both sexes are roughly equal. I strongly believe that if we bring the proportion of school-leavers receiving tertiary education up to European levels, the gender divide in employability will diminish drastically.”
Prof. Friggieri adds that the need to tap all EU funds is also paramount if we are to make Europe work for us.
Touching on the issue of national appeal, Prof. Friggieri mentions his lifelong commitment to education.
“I have taught generations of students and I hope that at least some of them will remember my contribution to their career!” he chuckles.
“This is a European election and to participate in it you must believe in the European Union. That should go without saying, but here in Malta one needs to say it!”
Prof. Friggieri also says his campaign is not confrontational but “a battle of ideas”.
We then went on to discuss tourism.
“Cultural tourism will benefit immensely from EU membership but we must also protect our sites from the over-affluence of visitors.”
He feels strongly on environmental issues and has signed a petition for the re-location of the Mnajdra landfills. He also thinks that the remaining green areas and agricultural land outside development zones should be protected by the introduction of an entrenched environment clause in the Constitution.
At the end of our conversation the issue of civil rights comes up
again. Joe Friggieri tells me:
“When Pietru Pawl Busuttil was arrested and falsely accused of committing a crime, I was one of a small group of people who publicly declared that we were convinced that Busuttil was innocent. When the government was waging its battle against education, I opened my house to students. When the government waged its attack on the university, I was there protesting. When Vaclav Havel was sent to prison, I wrote a letter urging the Maltese government to campaign for his release. That is why I love Europe. The European Union defends these basic human rights and values. It gives its citizens an added shield against possible abuse by ruthless politicians,” Prof. Friggieri concludes with evident emotion.