During the electoral campaign, I dedicated most of my days, meeting people, speaking with families from every walk of life and every political persuasion. Those conversations made me realise that beyond the glossy campaigns, and expensive marketing, all people are looking for the simplest things - security, opportunity, fairness and the confidence that tomorrow can be better than today.
It is these conversations that I have promised to take with me to Parliament, as I am honoured to genuinely serve the constituents I represent for the upcoming legislature.
My professional journey has allowed me to see Malta's economy from various different perspectives. As an economist, I have worked with public institutions, social partners and within the education sector, contributing to policies aimed at strengthening our country's economic performance. Today, as a business owner employing people with their own aspirations and responsibilities, I experience first-hand the daily realities faced by entrepreneurs, employers and workers alike.
This combination of experiences has reinforced in me, one fundamental belief in an economy that serves the people. Economic growth is crucial, competitiveness is the key to such growth, while FDI ensures that the country creates the right opportunities for its people. However, success cannot be measured solely through economic indicators, especially when facing the current reality of people feeling increasingly overwhelmed, if businesses struggle under unnecessary bureaucracy, or if quality of life continues to erode.
Increasingly, young people are telling us that they feel disconnected from the pace of modern life. They aspire not only to rewarding careers but also to meaningful lives, spending time with family and loved ones, opportunities to pursue their passions and confidence that they can indeed build a future in Malta. These aspirations should shape the way we design our economic and social policies.
If we fail to address these concerns, we risk losing a generation that believes its future lies elsewhere. Retaining the younger generation from packing up and leaving, is about creating a country where people genuinely want to live, work and raise their families.
As newly appointed speaker for the Film industry, I will be taking a direct interest in this industry that over the years, has evolved into one of the country's strongest economic contributors, generating significant foreign direct investment while creating opportunities across a wide range of sectors.
The value of this industry extends far beyond the productions themselves that are shot in Malta as each production supports an impressive multiplier effect ranging from accommodation providers, to catering businesses, transport operators, construction suppliers and many other local enterprises.
Equally, the film industry provides meaningful employment and valuable international experience for our artists, technicians and creative professionals, allowing them to develop careers that compete and perform at the highest level. Their professionalism and expertise have become one of Malta's greatest assets, and we should continue investing in the people whose skills have helped build our country's reputation within the global film industry.
Looking ahead, there remains enormous potential for further growth. We should continue standing shoulder to shoulder with local producers, helping local filmmakers develop stories that deserve international audiences, while also ensuring that Malta remains an attractive destination for international productions.
Supporting both local creativity and foreign investment is not a choice between two significant priorities; together they strengthen an industry that continues to generate economic value, create quality employment and showcase Malta to the world.
As Parliament begins a new legislature, I look forward to working constructively with colleagues from across the entire political spectrum whenever that serves the national interest. At the same time, I will remain steadfast in defending the principles and values that I share with my colleagues in the Nationalist Party, to build a more competitive, sustainable and fair future.
Constructive opposition is about presenting credible alternatives, challenging poor decisions where necessary and demonstrating that better solutions are possible.
Malta has every reason to look towards the future with confidence. Our task now is to ensure that progress is measured not only by economic success, but by the opportunities we create, the communities we strengthen and the quality of life we leave to our future generations.
Marilena Gauci is the Nationalist Party's spokesperson for the film industry