PNNotableDistrict 8

Justin Schembri

LikelyCentre-right; socially traditional; immigration-sceptic

Track record

★★★★★

Controversy

High

Social media

Low

Conflict of interest

Unknown

Financial transparency

Partial

Political alignment

EU Group

EPP

Ideological position

Centre-right; socially traditional; immigration-sceptic

Intra-party standing

New-generation Delia-faction; shadow Education; minority leader Birkirkara council

Key issue focus

Education; skills; civil service reform

Abortion stance

Silent

Track record

Prior office / role

MP since 2022; Shadow Education (2022–26); Birkirkara Local Council minority leader

Key documented achievement

Teacher by profession; substantive education policy output (civil service detachment proposal; O-level failure analysis; LSE delays campaign); PQs on Birkirkara Primary School renovation

Principle vs delivery gap

Salvini-sympathy Facebook posts (2019) — criticised by fellow PN MPs; Delia-faction association; first general election was 2022

Business interests & transparency

Conflict of interestUnknown

Insufficient public information

Financial transparencyPartial

MPs' declaration (Sch.1) only — not a minister. Submitted annually to Speaker; most recent: 2025. Accessible via Speaker's office; not publicly tabled in Parliament. No ministerial (Sch.2) form required

Controversies (3)

Posted on Facebook that Malta was full of "filth, shabbiness and Indians," equating Indian nationals with refuse; condemned by NGO Repubblika and Parliamentary Secretary Rebecca Buttigieg; refused to retract
High
Nature: Racism/documented discrimination
Sources:MaltaToday, May 2024Malta Independent, May 2024
Sympathised with far-right Italian politician Matteo Salvini on social media (2019, when serving as Birkirkara local council minority leader); post deleted
Medium
Nature: Political association; deleted post
Sources:MaltaToday
Facebook posts sympathising with Matteo Salvini (2019); criticised by PN colleagues including Michael Fenech Adami
Medium
Nature: Ideological; walked back; no formal party action
Sources:MaltaToday, Nov 2019

Social media & campaign

Approximate reach

Low-moderate

Campaign tone

Professional; education-themed

Key campaign message

Education reform; skills; teacher conditions

Platforms

Facebook

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