Gozitan ophthalmologist Franco Mercieca is prepared to put his career and private practice on hold to dedicate the next five years to his calling in politics.

There is no price for respect

Mr Mercieca admitted he had received a call from Prime Minister Joseph Muscat late on Sunday asking him whether he was prepared to accept any post with political responsibility or whether he preferred focusing on his career as an eye specialist.

“He [Dr Muscat] contacted me late on Sunday to discuss the [electoral] result and asked whether I would consider some form of political responsibility in the future. He did not mention a ministerial or Cabinet post. He simply asked if I preferred to focus on my profession,” Dr Mercieca said when contacted.

He felt he owed it to the almost 4,000 Gozitans who voted for him in Saturday’s election, electing him to Parliament on the first count, ahead of incumbent MP Justyne Caruana who scrapped through to Parliament yesterday without reaching the quota.

Mr Mercieca initially sounded reluctant to discuss his decision but then said: “Two years ago, when I decided to accept Dr Muscat’s invitation to contest the general election, it was clear I was choosing politics over my profession; that I was choosing more responsibilities over money.

“Now that I have been elected, I feel the people have shown respect and trust in me, they have humbled me with their vote and I feel I have to pay them back. There is no price for respect.”

Mr Mercieca, a father of four who contested the election for the first time, was the first candidate to be elected on the first count with 3,969 votes.