Maltese MEP Miriam Dalli has been named as one of Politico’s Class of 2019 – a list of the most influential and effective influencers in the global political and cultural spheres.

Describing her as one a key “doers, disrupters and dreamers” in the European Parliament, Dalli was praised for taking on the European car industry and pushing through stringent regulations on the continent.

“If Brussels puts in place tough greenhouse gas limits for cars and vans next year, it will be in no small part thanks to Miriam Dalli. By building alliances among left-leaning and Green parties, the Maltese politician pushed through stiff emissions targets in the European Parliament — overcoming opposition from the European People’s Party, the assembly’s biggest group, and fierce lobbying from the German car industry,” Politico said in their description of her.

“The Politico 28 is our guide to the people to watch in 2019” – Stephan Faris, Politico editor

“As usual, our list includes politicians, business leaders, activists and artists selected not for the power of their office but for the way they are shaping their countries or the EU. But this year we’ve done something different: In addition to picking an overall number one, we’ve divided our list into three categories: doers, dreamers and disruptors. Our selection should not be seen as endorsements, but it does reflect who we believe will be shaping the European discussion. We hope our Class of 2019 will spur conversation, and even some dissent,” he said.

Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia had previously been named in the Politico 28 in 2017, where she was described as “a one-woman Wikileaks crusading against untransparency and corruption in Malta”.

Dalli was congratulated for being named as one of the Politico 28

The 2019 Class of Politico 28 are:

The doers: Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide (Norway), Pedro Sánchez (Spain), Martin Selmayr (Germany), Heli Tiirmaa-Klaar (Estonia), Yulia Timoshenko (Ukraine), Mark Carney (Canada), Barbara Nowacka (Poland), Miriam Dalli (Malta), Ronald Prins (The Netherlands),

The dreamers: Garance Pineau (France), Niklas Zennström (Sweden), Era Istrefi (Kosovo), Peter Vesterbacka (Finland), Sener Levent (Cyprus), Joana Vasconcelos (Portugal)m Ivan Krastev (Bulgaria), Dominik Feri (Czech Republic), Guðrið Højgaard (Faroe Islands),

The disruptors: Mary Lou McDonald (Ireland), Mattias Tesfaye (Denmark), Jeremy Corbyn (United Kingdom), Eleni Touloupaki (Greece), Herbert Kickl (Austria), Ali Can (Turkey/Germany), Márta Pardavi (Hungary), Mischaël Modrikamen (Belgium), Mihai Sora (Romania).

And: Matteo Salvini (Italy)

What do you think of Miriam Dalli?

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Johnathan Cilia

Johnathan is an award-winning Maltese journalist interested in social justice, politics, minority issues, music and food. Follow him at @supreofficialmt on Instagram, and send him news, food and music stories at [email protected]