Most politicians who win an election in Jersey are probably satisfied with a pat on the back from their supporters and a mention in the local newspapers.
But after becoming one of the youngest politicians in the world, Gabriel Raimondo received a message of congratulations from Donald Trump.
“It’s very crazy,” said Raimondo, who was aged 18 years and 10 days when he was elected to the island’s parliament, the States Assembly. “It makes it feel quite an achievement. It’s really good to see Jersey being put on the map. It makes me proud of my island.”
Asked if he was a fan of the US president, Raimondo said: “I would have to say not at the moment.” He was diplomatic enough not to say much more, instead focusing on the US political system.
“It’s just so far from our politics here. I don’t like politics in the US because of the division that’s created between parties. In the US with a two-party system, it’s just so divided. In Jersey, most politicians don’t align themselves behind a particular party. Here you’ve got to work with each other. There has to be some sort of collaboration.”
There is no suggestion that Trump has been keenly watching the Jersey elections. Rather, asked by ITV about Raimondo’s achievement, the US president replied that young people in politics had “great imagination” and wished the 18-year-old “a lot of luck”.
Raimondo is not from a political background: his mother is a beautician, his father a mechanic. He grew up in the picturesque parish of St Brelade, to the west of the island.
He likes performing magic and spending time with the family dog, Percy the pug. “My family aren’t at all into politics,” he said. “I’d never had really a family connection to it – and, to be honest, I never wanted to be a politician.”
Raimondo was due to take A-levels this spring and summer – biology, chemistry and maths – but felt inspired to put them on hold and stand for election because of his concern at the island’s social issues, which are usually hidden to the casual visitor.
He said: “The cost of living problem in Jersey is getting significantly worse. Our supermarkets here are much more expensive than in the UK. Families are feeling it because a lot of wages aren’t significantly higher.”
Raimondo said he would like to see more job opportunities outside finance: “We lose a lot of our young people to the UK. They have to leave to go to university and very often they don’t come back. It’s really down to things like job opportunities.” He said he would like sectors such as technology, biotechnology and creative arts to be promoted.
The campaign was by no means all fun and positivity. Raimondo suffered abuse disturbing enough to be flagged to the police. The Jersey Electoral Authority warned islanders to be “careful in believing what is written” in online posts.
Raimondo said he had received death threats, had been spat at while knocking on doors, and his posters had been ripped down. “I don’t know if they’re disenfranchised with politics or whether they particularly don’t like me specifically,” he added.
He persisted and was one of two independent candidates elected in St Brelade. The third successful candidate was a Reform Jersey candidate (not affiliated with Reform UK), but Raimondo came in ahead of a second Reform Jersey candidate. Across Jersey, Reform suffered disappointing results.
Raimondo said it felt “surreal” when he was elected. “It showed people do want to see something different. And that’s important. I think it’s really necessary that we have somebody sitting in our parliament that does represent the younger voice.”
Asked for his views on UK politics, Raimondo said he thought the move away from a two-party system was positive. He said: “I do think it’s a good thing to have more parties, parties that can represent more ideas so that people can actually have a choice on who they want rather than just having to pick the lesser of the two evils.”
He will take his A-levels in the winter, but no matter the results he will stay in Jersey and serve his community. “I’ve got to be here for my job. I’ll be here for four years because that’s the length of our terms. I could possibly see myself, if I’m lucky enough to be re-elected, doing longer. I would like to go to university possibly at some point, maybe later on down the line.”
