WATCH | Meet Your Candidate – Clint Azzopardi Flores

1. What fresh ideas do you bring to Malta’s political system? 

For the past four years I have focused on proposing concrete policies for Malta’s economic challenges, such as the right to adequate green space in highly urbanised zones. This initiative addresses recreation and mental health, and ties directly to citizen well-being as outlined in the PL’s Manifesto. I will also continue to prioritise affordable housing, having already proposed a financing mechanism adopted in the PL’s manifesto. My approach is solution-driven, offering practical alternatives rather than mere criticism.  

2. What are the three pressing challenges facing the country in the next five years?  

The first challenge is the environment, including climate change, biodiversity loss and nature preservation. There can be no social justice without respect for the environment. The second pressing challenge is mobility and the urgent need for change in how we commute. We need a cultural shift and better pedestrian roads, integrated with new modes of transportation—an integrated approach using water, overground and other modes. The third challenge is the upskilling and reskilling of workers. Human capital is important relative to the size of the population to achieve higher levels of value added in a limited territory. We need to start transitioning from labour-intensive sectors to high-value-added sectors. This warrants an accelerated approach to achieve it in a relatively short period to compete with our peers.  

3. Why did you decide to run for election? 

For the past two years, I campaigned for better policies on affordable housing, the environment, and other issues that directly affect the younger generation. Before and after the MEP election, I used the media and my weekly column to propose policies to improve Malta. Wholeheartedly, I believe in youth—Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and the Digital Natives. We must give them the right opportunities, support, and an excellent education and digital ecosystem to thrive, develop higher skills, and achieve financial independence. There is no freedom without achieving financial independence. As an economist, I want to see them succeed, make money, and preserve their conscience to help others. However, this requires a cultural shift, including learning to empathise and care for others. We must give the younger generation the right tools to dream bigger and go farther. That was my dream as a kid form Bormla and Cottonera. I managed to partially fulfil it with the help of others. I want others to experience it and realise it.  

4. What is one issue you are most personally passionate about, and why? 

The environment and our heritage. I grew up in Bormla, an Urban Conservation Area, and roamed the small green patches there as a kid. Many did not know about them. And thank God for that. My grandmother loved the environment and animals. She taught me to respect nature if I want to be respected. I am an economist by profession, and we are normally tempted to tap into fast-growing sectors to accelerate GDP growth. However, I realised that a balance is needed between GDP growth and sustainability to achieve prosperity. Today, my specialisation is on sustainability, specifically ESG. The Wellbeing Index tied to the PL’s manifesto is the way forward.  

5. Outside of politics, how do you like to spend your free time? 

My main passion is cooking. I also enjoy walking and jogging daily from Tarxien to Bormla to visit my mother. Lastly, I like reading about foreign affairs and international politics. 

Meet Your Candidate is a MaltaToday sponsored production aimed at providing visibility to candidates from all political parties during the 2026 general election