The President of Malta, Myriam Spiteri Debono, launched the fourth edition of the National Survey and Conference on the ‘State of the Nation’, which will be held on June 20, 2024, at Verdala Palace.

President Myriam Spiteri Debono explained that the aim of this conference is to create an informative debate from which we can draw information so that the leaders’ proposals can be based on how the people of Malta and Gozo, their aspirations, their concerns, and also their character are changing and evolving from time to time.

The President thanked Vincent Marmara, a statistician and university lecturer, and Lou Bondi, a strategic communications consultant, for their commitment to this conference.

At the launch, Marmara said that once again, we will look at what defines people and what influences them to form their opinions and thoughts. He said that “this year in particular, we will look at the economic model, not from a technical aspect but from what influences it. Ultimately, the people are at the centre of everything that makes this, with their choices, opinions, and thoughts”.

Marmara concluded by saying that “before the speakers, the people, and the experts discuss the state of the nation, we will start by providing a picture of who the people are and what defines them from a scientific aspect. Thus, we will first listen to the people before starting the discussion”.

For his part, Bondi stated that fundamental and radical changes are taking place in our country and around us. Changes are creating realities, and we still need to understand what they mean for us so that the sense of who I am and who we are is no longer what it was yesterday. He added that "therefore, we must be careful that what I am does not begin to define who I am”.