I have been immersed in politics for the best part of two decades now. I have contested and been elected in local elections. I have carried out considerable work behind the scenes at Party level in national elections. I have even extensively covered all types of political events, not just of Labour, in my professional endevours. And to top it all, during the past four years I have had the honour of representing Malta as a Member of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union.

But let me state that nothing quite prepares you for the experience of standing as a candidate for the European Parliament. To begin with, a candidate in these elections has to focus on the whole of Malta and Gozo, thus necessarily coming into contact with a vast number of people from all walks of life. It is one thing to campaign in Sliema, and quite another to be doing so in Zurrieq.

In my political life I have always striven to serve. I did, and continue to do so, loyally and with consistency, and with the utmost respect for the people. I have deliberately chosen not to fill letter boxes with leaflets. I have remained loyal to my values and my campaign was one based on what I (and my husband Kevin, without whose constant support I could have never embarked upon such a strenuous mission) could afford as a candidate.

My campaign was one that was deliberately based on the direct contact with as many people as possible. For me this is what should be at the heart of any political campaign, in the firm belief that politicians need always remain in close contact with the people who, ultimately, they represent.

In fact, during this campaign I have had the opportunity to meet various people in their homes, in the streets, at local markets, during political and social events. Even modern media such as the internet with the mushrooming of the social network phenomena as Facebook have served as a tool enabling me to link with many members of society.

During my campaign, I have emphasised the social dimension more than anything else. My deep interest in the social sphere has always been based on my academic background and values. I believe that it should be our foremost priority to ensure social justice in Malta and in the European Union, and it is because of this that I have based my campaign on the idea of building a new Social Europe, a European Union wherein people are placed at the centre of politics, and where there is a recognition that money is not everything.

During this campaign I have unequivocally stated that for me Europe cannot work itself out of the present economic mess it finds itself in by allowing those politicians on the ‘right' to demolish the rights and conditions of workers for which our forebears strove so hard to achieve. I am on record stating that if the European Union truly wants to come out of this difficult situation stronger, then it needs to have political leaders who are committed to strengthen the umbilical cord that necessarily exists between the economic and the social spheres, because at the end of the day the economy should be at the service of man, and not the other way round.

We are now approaching the finishing line. This Saturday the people of Malta and Gozo will be called upon to express their judgment through their vote. For the time being five Members of the European Parliament will be elected (there is the possibility of a sixth should the Lisbon Treaty be ratified by Ireland later on this year). Five is not a big number and thus it is doubly important that we choose well. In this perspective, I humbly ask for your support through your vote, in the coming European elections.

My commitment to you is very clear. It is one based on the premise that in everything I do, I pledge to put the interests of the people first. It is a philosophy which is based on the understanding that politics is a service to the people, who ultimately are the true owners of any democratic society. It is our duty to ensure that the people we represent are enabled to turn their dreams into realities for their own sake and that of their families. That is what I stand for, and what - if you choose to elect me as your representative in the European Parliament - I pledge to strive for during the next legislature.