From Protest to Parliament: Malta’s Young Guns Ready to Govern

Imagine this: a group of young Maltese, barely out of their teens, standing at the heart of Valletta, their voices echoing through the Grandmaster’s Palace, demanding change. This wasn’t some distant past, but just a few years ago, in the summer of 2019. Today, some of those same faces are ready to take their place in Parliament, daring to dream of governing our little island.

Protest to Politics: A New Generation

Back in 2019, Malta was ablaze with protests. The murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia had sparked a wave of activism, with young people at the forefront. Among them was Akiel Rizzo, then just 19, now a candidate for the Labour Party in the upcoming election. “We were angry, we were frustrated,” he recalls, “but we also knew we had the power to make a difference.”

Rizzo is not alone. A new generation is stepping up, ready to translate their passion into policy. They’re part of a wider trend: in the 2020 local council elections, the average age of candidates was the lowest it had been in decades. Now, they’re setting their sights higher.

From the Streets to the Halls of Power

For these young candidates, the journey from protest to politics has been a natural evolution. “We saw that change wasn’t happening fast enough,” says Sara Calleja, a 23-year-old candidate for the Democratic Party. “So we decided to be that change.”

Calleja’s not the only one trading placards for party cards. The Malta Youth Network, a non-partisan organisation that emerged from the 2019 protests, has seen many of its members join political parties. Their aim? To bring their ideals and energy into the political system.

Ready to Govern: The Challenges Ahead

But governing is a different beast from protesting. These young candidates face a steep learning curve. They’ll need to navigate complex policy issues, build coalitions, and win over voters. And they’ll have to do it while under the spotlight of a hyper-connected, often critical social media scene.

Rizzo acknowledges the challenges. “It’s not just about having good ideas,” he says. “It’s about knowing how to implement them, how to work with others, how to communicate effectively. But we’re ready to learn, ready to grow.”

Calleja agrees. “We might be young, but we’re not naive. We know it won’t be easy. But we also know that Malta needs fresh perspectives, new energy. And we’re ready to bring that to the table.”

As the election approaches, these young candidates are hitting the streets, knocking on doors, and making their case. They’re not just dreaming of a better Malta; they’re ready to govern and make it a reality.