New party leader Marlene Farrugia giving deprived children free dentistry

Even Malta's newest party understands that 'professional' patronage is the key to winning votes.

Independent MP and dentist Marlene Farrugia will offer free dental services at her clinics to children from vulnerable families due to the long waiting lists at state clinics.

Farrugia, who recently set up the new Democratic Party, announced on Facebook that her clinics will between July and September offer free check ups, fillings, extractions and scalings to children whose parents can scant afford to pay for private dental care.

Her altruistic offer is open for children whose parents are unemployed, on the minimum wage, pink card owners, or young students.

It will proceed on a zone-by-zone basis, starting from children who live in Bormla, Birgu, Zejtun, Xghira, Marsaxlokk, Birzebbuga, Zurrieq, Qrendi, Mqabba, Kirkop, Hal-Safi, Kalkara, Isla, and Zabbar.

Those interested in an appointment can contact her Birgu clinic on 21641205, her Siggiewi clinic on 21461682, her Zebbug clinic on 21461131 for her appointment, or Farrugia directly through Facebook or on 99432407.

Marlene Farrugia was re-elected to Parliament on the Labour ticket in 2013, along with her partner Godfrey Farrugia – the current PL whip and former health minister. She was an outspoken internal critic of the Labour government before resigning from the party last November in protest at a Bill to split up the Malta Environment and Planning Authority into two separate authorities. However, she maintained her parliamentary seat and has remained vociferous in her criticism of the Labour government – particularly on issues related to corruption, governance and the environment.

Earlier this month, she set up the new ‘Democratic Party’, insisting that a new political force is necessary to counter “tribalism and the traditional parties”.

“A new political force is required, led by people whose success is the result of their own work and sacrifices and not by jumping on some political bandwagon, which opened for them one door after the other whilst other people had to be disciplined and work hard to achieve similar results,” the DP said in its first statement to the public.