Youngest politician is first guest on new Channel 103 show

Gabriel Raimondo, the youngest person to ever be elected to Jersey's parliament, has been chatting to Channel 103's Peter Mac...

The 18 year old politician was Peter's first guest on his new show. 

Channel 103's longstanding Breakfast Show presenter has finally been allowed a lie-in and will be presenting from 10am until 2pm every weekday.

Gabriel Raimondo came into the studio to discuss his experience of being an election candidate, winning a seat as Deputy of St Brelade and his future ambitions inside the States Assembly.

The teenager was elected to office just 10 days after his 18th birthday, with 1603 votes, to become the island's youngest politician and potentially the youngest parliamentarian in the western world.  Guinness World Records is in the process of confirming if he is indeed a record-holder.

Gabriel told Peter what has changed for him in the week since the election:

"It feels absolutely crazy.   It is really interesting to see what is going to happen in the future.  I am really hopeful.

"There is a lot less stress now that the election is over. 

"I wanted to be a vet, or a doctor, because I wanted to help people. Politics helps a lot of people, so that is why I decided to go down this route.

"The opportunity was there. I was ready, and I thought 'I'm going to give it a go, and see what happens'.

News of Gabriel's election achievement reached the White House, with US President Donald Trump being asked about him in a call from a journalist.

"I have the phone handed to me and Donald Trump has congratulated me and told me 'good luck' and said it is really good to see youth in politics.  It is really good to have a world leader say it's good to see youth in politics."

Gabriel  - who made regular TikTok videos throughout his campaign to reach younger voters - also spoke about some of the abuse and online trolling he received.

"I thought 'why am I doing this? If people don't want me elected, what's the point in me running?' But after that subsided I started to get my message out there, tell people the truth rather than the rumours, and I would say the last three weeks up to the election were the best of my life. I had so much fun, spoke to so many new people, so I can't complain.

"You have got to keep your head high.  When I was on a doorstep, speaking to a father that's working 6.5 days a week (and) seeing his newborn baby three hours a week - that's why I was doing this. That is what kept me going and pushing me forward.

The new deputy has deferred his A-Levels  - in Biology, Chemistry and Maths - but says he will be taking them in the autumn.

"I am planning to see them done in November, but possibly I might split them.  Ultimately I will have them done, but possibly I might split them into November, summer, November."

Gabriel, whose hobby is magic, which he has been doing since the age of eight, answered some of Peter's quick-fire questions.

Tea or Coffee? Tea, always.

Favourite place in Jersey?: Corbiere

Last TV series you binged? Stranger Things

Favourite App:  Facebook or TikTok

If politics disappeared tomorrow, what job would you choose?  Probably veterinary.

Finally, Gabriel was asked what would make his four-year term in office a success:

"I want to make a positive impact on people's lives.  If I manage to see a change to the education system, young people stay here and even involved in politics, or even a younger person running for the States next time, that would make it all worth it.  I am pleased I have done it, I really am."

Peter Mac is on Channel 103 every weekday 10am until 2pm  This Friday (19 June) his guest will be former deputy and Reform Jersey leader Sam Mezec, giving his first interview since losing the election, ending his 12 years in Jersey's parliament.