Who are you, what is your background and your expertise? What do you hope to contribute to Malta?

My given name is Emanuel Agius, but most people know me as “Leli”. I am 25 years old and come from Zebbug. My background has always been linked to agriculture, an industry that has been synonymous with my family’s way of life for generations. I am what the Maltese generally call, “bin il-bdiewa”. To this day, farming remains my family’s livelihood.

My career so far has been packed with a myriad of experiences ranging from voluntary work to gainful employment abroad. In Korca, Albania, I was part of a group of Maltese volunteers who carried out education programmes of a socio-religious nature for young people. In Beirut, Lebanon, I lived, worked and studied in a seminary on a voluntary basis for four months.

Information Technology has always been my area of interest and study. I hold two diplomas, one at higher level, in computers. This led me to employment in Scotland at the Glasgow IBM plant. I took up my job in Scotland soon after Malta’s entry to the EU. Finally, my interest in IT has steered me into education and I pursued a career giving computer courses at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.

Through my hard work, time and commitment to the party, I hope to contribute to the vision and goals set by the PN for 2015 for a better Malta on the basis of employment, environment and education. Moreover, given my background in education via IT and my connections with people who work in the agricultural sector, I feel I can contribute my expertise in these two sectors.

Why do you think the PN should be re-elected?

There is more than one reason why the Nationalist Party should be re-elected. I shall give two reasons:

Firstly, PN’s political vision for Malta has since the early years of the post-Independence era endorsed the concept of full membership with the EU. Now that we have initiated this experience, which political party can guide us better to achieve what we have long strived for? PN or MLP? Similarly, the following paradigm puts everything into perspective: the one who has guided you all the way from the forest to the village is better suited to lead you into the village, than the one who refused to leave the forest in the first place!

Secondly, PN is a party that has managed to reinvent itself over the years. Consequently, the PN of the last general election in 2003 is now a different party with a new leader and an invigorated team. This ongoing renewal process within the party was the successful ingredient that has kept our party fresh, as it is full of talent and has floated new ideas for so many years. As a matter of fact, approximately 25 per cent of all PN candidates contesting this general election are aged between 25 and 35.

What does the PN offer young people?

Let us ask the question in reverse format: “what are the things the Nationalist Party did not offer to the young people?” Stipends? Education? Scholarships? Opportunities of employment? Freedom of choice? Security? Freedom of expression? Confidence in achieving ones’ aspirations? Empowerment? Work overseas? Education programmes at European level? Exchange programmes? Opportunity to stand at par with fellow European youths?

Actions speak louder than words. The PN boasts a portfolio full of policies and implementations targeting every individual, class and generation, not least the young people. Hence, I invite everyone to judge the PN by what it has done throughout its years of service in government. The proof of the pudding is in the eating!

Why should people voting PN vote for the young untried candidates instead of the old and tried faces?

During a 1984 presidential debate with Walter Mondale, Ronald Reagan had said: “I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” This witty comment was addressed at Reagan’s critics who deemed him unfit to stand for the presidential election due to his old age. Reagan was 73 at the time. This goes to show that there is always a flipside to the age of any candidate. The cliché goes: youth for energy and fresh ideas, old for wisdom and experience. Alternatively, youth is experimental and inexperienced while the old is expired and worn out.

My advice is that people should vote for whomever they feel are the right candidates who best represent them and who have the interest of the country at heart. Both the new and the established candidates are valid. Everyone has a contribution to make and something to offer.