Anyone who really knows me is scratching their head wondering why on earth I have decided to get involved in politics. They know me as a very private person who doesn’t particularly care about power, and is happy with what he has.
I have only ever owned one home, will probably only leave it in a box; have one rather battered eight-year-old car; no boats; take a maximum of two budget holidays a year and have just one indulgence – books. I have a library of approximately 2,000 volumes.
Although a doctor, I am an employee, a wage earner, just like most of you. I took a decision at the very beginning of my career not to do private practice. I earn enough money to pay my bills and give my daughter a decent education. I need no more.
So, why politics?
Firstly, I must blame Marlene Farrugia. When she made a call in March 2016 for people concerned about the current state of affairs in this country to join a movement, I went along out of curiosity.
Like many, many people reading this, my blood was boiling at the rampant corruption destroying the fabric of this country. Let’s be fair, the previous PN government were not exactly Vestal Virgins to the game of graft and I wanted to see and hear something new.
Marlene and I struck a chord. I know she is not everybody’s cup of tea but one thing you can say about her is she is honest and she has got guts. It takes courage to leave a ruling party with a huge majority near the beginning of its term of legislature. Some people call her a turncoat, I prefer to think of her as a woman with principles who will not sell them to the highest bidder.
I am also angry. Angry because, while we are doing well, we could do so much better
There was a certain gentleman who, like Marlene, was ostracised by both major parties in his country for crossing the House. He was left out of office, but in its hour of need, the country called on him to govern and he galvanised a nation to snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat. His name was Winston Churchill.
Now I am not saying Marlene is another Churchill, she would laugh at the thought. But risking public ire takes backbone, and she has certainly got that.
Secondly, it’s because I am a patriot. Not in the sense of those misguided xenophobes who have absolutely no confidence in their nation, and who go by that name. No, in the sense that every day I wonder at the little miracle that is called Malta. Stand amazed that despite 2,500 years of colonisation we have kept our language and sense of nationhood. Marvel that we have a unique culture and, moulded by the many peoples who have settled on these islands, such a colourful identity. I am proud that, despite having few natural resources and even less land, we have managed to carve out a decent living for ourselves and our children.
Coupled with this, I am also angry. Angry because, while we are doing well, we could do so much better. I see such a waste of talent because people who could contribute so much more to this country are left out in the cold due to their political leanings. Angry to see the undeserving promoted above those so much better qualified through personal or political nepotism. Angry at seeing the name of this proud nation dragged through the international gutter by the actions of those who should be defending it.
And like any true patriot, I want to do my bit to move this country forward. I want to clean the way we are governed, create a culture where people achieve their goals based on merit and hard work, not favour. I want the younger generations to feel inspired to enter public service, not view it as something dirty. I want future generations to look back at our time as tenants on this land and say: “They did right by us”.
I feel I owe it to the nation. My father died when I was 20, he left us penniless. Probably in any other country I would have had to leave my studies to work and support my family. Thanks to the social structures we pay our taxes into, I was able to fulfil my dream of becoming a doctor. As a result, I have had a decent life. It is time to give something back.
Anthony Buttigieg is deputy leader of Partit Demokratiku.