Outgoing Opposition MP Ivan J. Bartolo stated that he has decided not to recontest his seat in Parliament because he has grown tired of the "drama, behaviour, and disorder" often observed within the House of Representatives and because his vision for both sides of Parliament to align for the benefit of the country was "just a dream" that fell on deaf ears.
Near the end of Wednesday's plenary session, PN MP Ivan J. Bartolo took some time to discuss why he decided in March last year that he was not going to recontest his parliamentary seat in the next general election.
He said that his decision to leave politics wasn't easy but, as this legislature went on, his motivation and excitement for being an MP gradually diminished.
Bartolo observed that his calls for collaboration fell on "everyone's" deaf ears. He also mentioned that while Malta is an "extraordinary" country, "we are profoundly split - especially in politics."
In Bartolo's view, politics should be a service and a contribution, where both sides of the House work together for the benefit of the country. He said that he has always believed that in politics, MPs should put their party's colours aside and work for the red and white of the Maltese flag.
"From the start, my politics have been simple: work for Malta, not for political colours," he said.
"Our duty is not to win arguments, but to build a better Malta," he said, "which means doing what's best for our islands, and that requires everyone - government, opposition, [the Speaker], and me."
Bartolo continued that this "requires alignment; all of us working on the same page and the commitment to work together - not the tug of war we often observe" instead of pulling the same rope.
"Unfortunately, this vision of mine was just a dream. The reality I encountered in this Parliament was very different," Bartolo said, citing the drama, ill behaviour, and disorder that characterised plenaries he attended.
Bartolo's time as an MP is spread over two legislatures. His first stint was short-lived, lasting just eight months, as he had vacated his seat for Bernard Grech when he was elected leader of the Nationalist Party in late 2020. Bartolo was initially elected in March 2020 following a casual election to replace Marthese Portelli in the 9th district.
This later caused him to recontest his seat in the 2022 general election, when his desire to contribute to national politics was met with the electorate's trust to solidify his return as an MP.
Bartolo noted that he had no issue joining the Opposition when he first entered the political arena, as he always thought that one could truly make a difference from the Opposition's side of the House.
He added that according to opinion polls, the number of people looking to abstain from voting next general election keeps going up.
He said that it is "very worrying" that the public's perception of politics continues to worsen, and that "politicians are either seen as people without direction or, even worse, people who cannot be trusted." Bartolo said that this is concerning since this mentality translates to declining trust in democracy overall.
"I've decided to leave politics because I care a lot, not because I don't," Bartolo stated, "I feel that I can still be active outside Parliament, with even more liberty."
The outgoing PN MP remarked that "the politics in [Parliament] is not what inspires people outside, but rather it is pushing people away." He added that the House of Representatives needs "less arguments, more progress; less "me" and more "us."
After thanking the Speaker of the House, Anġlu Farrugia, for his continued support throughout his time as an MP, as well as the Parliament of Malta's staff and his colleagues from both parliamentary groups, Bartolo said that he is ending his time in politics "not in anger or sadness, but in reflection."
During this speech, Bartolo commented that the next general election is on the horizon and that it "can happen at any time between now and March next year." In this regard, he added that "this might be one of my final speeches in this House."
Bartolo is one of a handful Opposition MPs who have announced that they will not run in the next general election, together with Claudette Buttigieg, Ryan Callus, and Opposition Whip Robert Cutajar.