One of the youngest candidates on the Nationalist Party ticket, Francine Farrugia tells Adriana Bishop about her “modern ideas” for Malta with more green areas for better work-life balance and a holistic education preparing youths to be tomorrow’s leaders.
She may be “just” 27 years old and on her first foray in general elections but Francine Farrugia has already got over a decade of experience in politics.
Currently serving as a councillor in her beloved hometown of Siġġiewi, Farrugia was only 16 years old when she joined the Youth Local Council where she also served as the Youth Mayor. As a teenager she presented a set of proposals in the Youth Parliament which have now been implemented, like extending the right to vote to 16-year-olds and introducing electronic tablets in schools.
“My involvement in these voluntary organisations made it clearer to me where I wanted to be - in politics, delivering for everyone,” says Francine over Zoom as she sat down for a breather in the midst of this whirlwind campaign. “I was a shy person, but politics brought out the best of me."
The eldest of three sisters, Farrugia is the only one in the family who is actively involved in...
