Eve Borg Bonello set to become youngest MP in Malta and (probably) the world

Eve Borg Bonello becomes Malta's youngest MP through Gender Quota Mechanism

Apr 12 2022

Indications have shown that the Nationalist Party’s Eve Borg Bonello will become the youngest Member of Parliament in Malta and probably the rest of the world.

The 18-year-old became the youngest candidate in Malta’s political history, contesting on ninth and tenth district in the 2022 general election, after occupying the post of President within the PN’s youth wing Team Start.

Malta continues to make European benchmarks in this regard after earlier this year, Roberta Metsola become the youngest-ever EU Parliament President on January 18th.

With Rebekah Cilia getting into parliament on the 7th district via casual election Borg Bonello is set to make it into parliament.

#MaltaDaily

Anglu Farrugia keen to retain his Speaker role

Apr 12 2022

Anglu Farrugia said he is keen to carry on as parliament’s speaker as a new parliamentary term is set to begin. As speculation continues to germinate, Labour MP Michael Farrugia was being touted as one potential candidate.

Contacted by Times of Malta about his future role, Anglu Farrugia confirmed that he is interested in continuing his role. The country’s first full-time speaker pointed towards reforms giving greater autonomy to parliament during his nine-year tenure.

The choice on who gets the Speaker seat falls on Prime Minister Robert Abela. Farrugia was appointed to the position back in 2013 months after his dramatic resignation as Labour’s deputy leader prior to the election.

Before the standard commissioner’s office was set up, Farrugia had long lamented how he was powerless to take any action to investigate the mandatory financial declarations filed by all MPs. This also prompted Opposition leader Bernard Grech to accuse Farrugia of using his rulings and casting vote to hinder or render unless the standard commissioner’s and the committee’s work.

#MaltaDaily

PN urges government to address nurse shortage crisis

Apr 12 2022

The Nationalist Party stressed the need for government to address the crisis of resigning nurses on Monday. Quoting statistics from the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN), it highlighted how around 120 nurses resigned in 2021.

Acknowledging the excellent quality of health care Malta has to offer, the Opposition said that the government cannot keep ignoring the situation month after month.

The PN said that Malta has a health car system which is worth boasting about, but ‘the lack of action by the government when faced with constant warnings by the unions representing these professionals is causing stressing factors within this same health system.’

Calling for proper investment to make any profession in the health sector more attractive, the PN said that the government is only investing in short term and managing the health care system according to whatever the most recent crisis may be.

With a growing population, the PN said that problems need addressing now before it is too late.

#MaltaDaily

COVID left me exhausted Queen tells grieving virus patient

Apr 12 2022

Queen Elizabeth II revealed to a former patient that COVID-19 left her very tired and exhausted after she contracted it.

The monarch had tested positive for coronavirus last February, going on to carry with her duties despite suffering from mild cold-like symptoms.

The Queen had a virtual meeting with the Royal London hospital in Whitechapel on Wednesday to mark the official opening of the Queen Elizabeth Unit. She listened to the stories of medical staff, patients and workers who made use of the facility during the pandemic.

She told one couple, former patient Asef Hussain and his wife Shamina, that the virus tends to leave one very tired and exhausted. ‘This horrible pandemic. It’s not a nice result’ she said.

Hussain was his family’s third member to be admitted to hospital with the virus. His brother had died of COVID, followed by their father who passed away while Hussain himself was on a ventilator.

#MaltaDaily