Picture this: instead of the usual campaign flyers littering Malta’s streets, a candidate’s funds are used to save lives. This is exactly what happened in Birkirkara, where independent candidate, Joseph Xuereb, decided to spend his campaign budget on something unexpected – a public defibrillator.

Xuereb, a local pharmacist, was tired of the typical election paraphernalia. “I thought, what’s the point of spending money on things that will just be thrown away?” he said. “I wanted to do something meaningful, something that would truly benefit the community.”

So, he invested €1,500 of his campaign funds in a defibrillator, installing it outside his pharmacy on Triq San Giljan. The device, now accessible to the public, could potentially save lives in case of cardiac emergencies.

The community’s response has been overwhelmingly positive. “People come in every day to thank me,” Xuereb said, smiling. “They tell me they feel safer knowing there’s a defibrillator nearby.”

Local resident, Maria Azzopardi, praised Xuereb’s initiative. “It’s about time someone thought beyond the elections,” she said. “This defibrillator could make all the difference in an emergency.”

Xuereb’s unconventional spending has sparked conversations about the future of campaign finance. “Why can’t we use these funds to improve our communities, rather than just promote ourselves?” Xuereb asked. “Let’s make campaign spending about leaving a lasting legacy, not just winning votes.”

While Xuereb may not have won the election, he’s certainly won the hearts of his community. His unique approach to campaign spending has set a new standard, proving that sometimes, the best way to win is to give back.

As for the future, Xuereb hopes his initiative inspires others. “Let’s make Malta a place where every community has a defibrillator,” he said. “Let’s make our campaign spending count, for real.”