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Marlene Farrugia

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Marlene Farrugia is a Maltese Member of Parliament and founder and leader of the Democratic Party. She was formerly a member of the Nationalist Party, with whom she contested the General Elections in 1996 and 1998, and the Labour Party, with whom she was elected in 2008 and 2013, before resigning in 2015[1] and forming the Democratic Party in 2016.[2]

Professional career

Farrugia is a dentist by profession and runs a dental clinic in Siggiewi.[3]

Political career

Farrugia first entered the political scene in 1996, where she stood as a candidate (under the name of Marlene Pullicino) for the Nationalist Party in that year's Local Council elections and was elected, serving on the Zebbug Local Council between 1996 and 1999.[4] She subsequently stood for the 1998 General Elections on the Nationalist Party ticket. She gained 311 first count votes from the fifth electoral district and was not elected.[5]

Following the EU accession referendum held in 2003, Farrugia shifted allegiances to the Labour Party.[6] She contested the 2008 General Elections on behalf of the Labour Party and was elected from the fifth electoral district with a total of 3,375 first-count votes.[7] She was re-elected from the same electoral district in 2013, garnering 2,525 first-count votes.[8]

Democratic Party

Following disagreements with the Labour Party, Farrugia tendered her resignation from the party on 17 November 2015, becoming the only independent MP in the Maltese House of Representatives.[1] She later founded the Democratic Party becoming its first leader and only sitting MP.[2]

Political views

Farrugia is known for her outspoken nature and has been a vocal critic of her party on a number of issues, including the introduction of divorce, environmental issues and over-development, and good governance. She defines her political position as centre-left,[9] however she is also influenced by her Roman Catholic faith (such as in the run-up to the 2011 referendum on the introduction of divorce, which she initially opposed on religious grounds).[10] Farrugia has also been vocal on issues related to environmental protection (particularly throughout the controversy related to the American Institute of Malta[11]) and good governance, and was highly critical of Minister Konrad Mizzi's and the Maltese Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Keith Schembri's involvement in the Panama Papers leaks.[12]

Controversies

In 2015 Farrugia has destined a fine property in St. Ursula Street (Valletta), worth over half a million Euro, to Chinese national Han Bin. This was revealed when a contract for the promise to sell of the property was found during an investigation of human rights violations that allegedly Bin was involved.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b Dalli, Miriam (17 November 2015). "Marlene Farrugia tenders resignation from Labour and environment committee". Maltatoday. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Marlene Farrugia is temporary leader of new Democratic Party". Times of Malta. 4 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  3. ^ Diacono, Tim (23 October 2015). "Marlene Farrugia offers honoraria to rent new room for Siggiewi Labour party club". Maltatoday. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  4. ^ "Żebbuġ Local Council". Kunsill Lokali Ħaż-Żebbuġ. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  5. ^ "Government of Malta". 1998 Election Results. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  6. ^ Agius, Matthew (17 February 2015). "'I did not leave the PN, the PN left me' - Marlene Farrugia". Maltatoday. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  7. ^ "Government of Malta". 2008 Election Results. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  8. ^ "2003 Election Results". Government of Malta. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  9. ^ Sansone, Kurt (27 March 2016). "New centre-left party just a few weeks away - Marlene Farrugia to fly its flag in Parliament". Times of Malta. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  10. ^ Massa, Ariadne (24 October 2010). "Marlene Pullicino offered to co-sponsor divorce bill". Times of Malta. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  11. ^ "Marlene Farrugia hits out at government ahead of 'American university' debate". Times of Malta. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  12. ^ "Marlene Farrugia tables no confidence motion in Keith Schembri". Times of Malta. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  13. ^ http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150121/local/leisure-clothing-managing-director-received-30000-performance-bonus-a.552816
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