PN spokesperson and EU official Peter Agius has today announced his bid to run for an MEP seat at the forthcoming European elections to be held in May 2024.
Agius, a senior EU official, formerly Head of the European Parliament Office in Malta, was PN candidate in 2019 where he garnered over 10,000 first preference votes in a blitz campaign focusing on bread and butter issues.
Notwithstanding not being elected as MEP, Agius’s political commitment continued after election. He was particularly active with initiatives on consumer protection, EU funding, EU opportunities for youths, transport and connectivity, Gozo and food production. Agius was also appointed as PN representative in the European People’s Party in 2000 and then as PN spokesperson last year.
In a statement announcing his submission as candidate to the Nationalist Party on Facebook, Agius emphasised the imperative of renewing the PN’s bond with the people. ‘The coming election must be an occasion to strengthen the PN as a force for change in our country. For this we must give new life to our relationship with the people. We must seek new methods to reach out, to understand, to affirm what we stand for and to explain how the continuing abuse of power of the present labour government is eroding people’s quality of life.’
"Over the past years I followed up on the pledges made as an MEP candidate at the last European election. I lobbied the European Commission on several occasions with concrete results for Maltese consumers, halting a grain export ban from Hungary. I kept pressing the cause of local food production, with a concrete results for fishermen and farmers while striving to extend further the benefits of EU membership to students, workers and our business community," said Agius.
‘While doing my part as a political activist, I have also strived to help in concrete ways all those who got in touch, from assistance with EU funding applications to help with traineeships and job opportunities to several social cases. I believe that no politician should shun a request for help. Politics is after all a disposition for service to all our compatriots.’ said Agius.
This week, eyes turned to the PN’s initiative to take to the streets with a national protest planned for tomorrow in Valletta. Agius believes that people’s patience for the status quo is wearing thin. "People are tired of self-centred politicians with a vision leading merely to the closest election, squandering and abusing our country along the way. The PN’s initiative to show our frustration is a good step forward. I will be there with the people in Valletta. We need to channel our energy intelligently for concrete change. The next European and local council elections gives us an occasion to bring about that change. I will definitely give all myself to be part of that," concluded Agius.