De Marco urges students to stand up for what they believe in

Nationalist Party leadership contender Mario de Marco urged University students to start challenging the norm and stand up for what they believed in as he made his case that it was high time the PN started reflecting society's needs.

De Marco was addressing candidates for the University School Council (KSU) elections, set to take place on Thursday. He met both SDM and Pulse candidates and even stopped for a game of table tennis.

"University is like a factory of ideas and it is meant to stimulate creative thinking. The easiest thing for a lecturer to do is provide information. The challenge for this institution is to become a place of formation," the Nationalist MP said.

"But students must also challenge what they see and what they hear. Think outside the box and ask why. Don't accept a rule just because it's a rule. Accept it if you truly believe it makes sense. If you believe it's wrong, stand up and speak out."

De Marco said it had been the students who had pushed forward on the agenda the censorship laws and they had been the catalysts of change on this issue.

He also urged student to be tolerant towards different cultures and beliefs.

As he drew examples between political life and the KSU elections, de Marco said both were meant to serve and therefore, policies should reflect the needs of the people.

"We have the responsibility to update our policies. Politics is alive and should be continually scrutinized and updated as to make sure that it is a reflection of an ever-changing society. We cannot be as presumptuous as to expect society to adapt to us," he said.

In comments to MaltaToday over his candidature, de Marco said PN's politics must be informed of the different facets which make up society. "We cannot continue go on saying things and taking positions which do not reflect the reality and needs of society," he said, adding that many felt alienated by the party.

Asked about inclusivity, de Marco didn't rule out the option of the setting up of an LGBT branch within the PN.

On the role the Opposition would take if he is elected leader, de Marco said the opposition must be the defender of citizens' rights. He was however more cautious as to whether he agreed with the Prime Minister's proposal for opposition MPs to hold executive roles.

"Labour has not yet explained what it means by executive roles... There is nothing wrong in seeing government and opposition working together if it's in the national interest.

"But the opposition cannot be in bed with the government. The devil is in the detail of government's proposal and we don't know yet what this detail is."