Meeting people from all around the community has become a challenging task. Trying to have an open conversation about politics is nowadays met with a lot of: “I don’t want to vote”, or “I no longer care about politics”, which shows how a part of the Maltese has thrown in the towel when it comes to politics.
Now more than ever, the Nationalist party is faced with a challenge like no other, and it is because of this that we need to knock on every door, meet people, and listen to the many concerns and struggles they are all facing on a day-to-day basis.
When someone decides they no longer wish to discuss anything related to politics, they’re throwing away a golden opportunity; the opportunity to learn what is ongoing in the place they call home, and share ideas on how the island can become a better version of itself. How can we – as people – grow, if we are unwilling to discuss what is needed for us to thrive?
When you refuse to vote, you are losing your voice; you are losing your opportunity to have a say in whatever is going on in your home, and more importantly, you are giving away the right to choose the right people to represent you!
This unwillingness to partake in politics not only goes against the main principle of true democracy, but also leaves a strong void, which is often filled up by opportunists and unscrupulous individuals who use politics as their ultimate tool for personal gain.
This unscrupulous sense of politics is both the cause and the inevitable effect of a huge lack within the current political class. The Maltese yearn for serious politicians with shared values; politicians who don’t take advantage of their people, and who don’t undermine the intelligence of those who have entrusted them with their vote. Maltese and Gozitan citizens are becoming disheartened by a political system that is failing them day after day.
The result? Rather than standing up for their rights, some are feeling helpless, even refusing to vote, giving opportunist politicians a better platform to continue well on their corruptive path. If we are not careful and take action now, this vicious cycle will keep on repeating itself. If there are no repercussions for those who have taken advantage of our political system, then there can be no change – and this is where you come in. Your voice is strong, and your voice matters!
If Malta holds a special place in your heart, now is the time to take a good look around you and smell the coffee. It’s time to weigh the good you’ve been blessed with, and all that has been taken away from you. The abuse of power has been staring you in the face, now it’s your job to recognise it. It’s time to exert your right to vote and make sure that you are choosing the right people to represent you. It’s time to put your trust back into serious, credible politicians who promise to put you and Malta first and above all else.
This is precisely why the Nationalist party wants you to be a part of the wave of change, one that you deserve. We want to have an open conversation about politics – we want each and every one of you to vote for what you believe is right for you and your country at this given moment, and be part of the change you want to see.
This little act of power is the key that will allow both you and us to fight against the blatant abuse that is unfolding before our eyes. Refusing to vote is not an option if you want Malta to regain a respectable reputation on a worldwide level. This is, unfortunately, the truth we are not only facing, but currently living in. We’re ready to rebuild that trust, and we promise to … only if we make a conscious effort to have an open conversation about politics, and only if we vote.
Clifford Zahra Fenech
Teacher and PN Candidate
7th District