Cultivating the adults of tomorrow

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...