Alternattiva Demokratika notes that the proposed legislation on the financing of political parties is a “one size fits all” exercise. This was stated by Carmel Cacopardo AD Deputy Chairman in the party’s first reaction to the Bill published on Friday last.
Cacopardo added that the Bill still proposes the Electoral Commission as the administrator of the law. This is unacceptable because the Electoral Commission is directed exclusively by the two Parliamentary parties to the exclusion of the rest of civil society. AD disagrees with this proposal and is of the opinion that when this Bill is approved it should be operated by the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life as per legislative proposal approved by a Parliamentary Select Committee and currently pending for the consideration of the House of Representatives. According to the pending proposal this Commissioner for Standards in Public Life should be supported by not less than two thirds of Members of Parliament to be elected. This would be a substantial improvement on that proposed by the Bill on the Financing of Political Parties.
Carmel Cacopardo added that notwithstanding the above AD has noted the amendment proposed (through the Bill’s clause number 47) to the definition of the term “political party” in article 2 of the General Elections Act. As a result of this proposed amendment the right of access to information held by the Electoral Commission to all registered political parties will for the first time be non-discriminatory. Whilst this will be a substantial improvement, it is not good enough.
The Bill, added Carmel Cacopardo, places heavy financial and administrative burdens on Alternattiva Demokratika exclusively as a result of the responsibilities resulting from the workings of the proposed legislation. It would be required to employ a suitably qualified person for AD to be in line with the provisions of this Bill. AD does not have the resources to shoulder these responsibilities. This is an impact which was anticipated and in its respect during the public consultation carried out on the White Paper AD made a specific proposal. Notwithstanding that the Minister for Justice declared that he would consider AD’s proposal it now results that this has been ignored.
Carmel Cacopardo concluded by stating that during the coming days AD’s Executive Committee will be meeting in order to consider the matter prior to seeking a meeting with the Minister of Justice on the changes which are essential to the proposed legislation.
…
Alternattiva Demokratika tosserva li b’mod generali l-abbozz ta’ ligi dwar il-finanzjament tal-partiti politici hu mfassal fuq il-qies tal-partiti l-kbar. Hu kaz ta’ “one size fits all”. Dan qalu Carmel Cacopardo Vici Chairman ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika fl-ewwel reazzjoni tal-partit ghall-abbozz ta’ ligi ippubblikat nhar il-gimgha li ghaddiet.
Cacopardo zied jghid li l-abbozz ta’ ligi ghadu jipproponi lill-Kummissjoni Elettorali bhala l-korp li ser jamministra din il-ligi. Dan hu inaccettabbli ghax il-Kummissjoni Elettorali hi immexxija esklussivament miz-zewg partiti fil-Parlament bl-eskluzjoni total tal-bqija tas-socjeta’ civili. AD ma taqbilx ma dan u hi tal-fehma li dan l-abbozz, meta approvat, ghandu jithaddem mill-Kummissarju ghall-Imgieba fil-Hajja Pubblika skond proposta ta’ Ligi approvata minn Kumitat Maghzul tal-Kamra tar-Rapprezentanti u prezentement pendenti quddiem il-Parlament. Skond il-proposta li hemm pendenti dan il-Kummissarju ghall-Ingieba fil-Hajja Pubblika ghandu jkollu l-appogg ta’ zewg terzi tal-Kamra tar-Rapprezentanti biex ikun elett. Dan hu hafna ahjar minn dak propost mill-abbozz ta’ Ligi dwar il-Finanzjament tal-Partiti Politici.
Carmel Cacopardo kompla jghid li minkejja dan, Alternattiva Demokratika tosserva l-emenda li giet proposta (permezz tal-klawsola 47 tal-abbozz) ghad-definizzjoni ta’ partit politiku fl-artiklu 2 tal-ligi dwar l-Elezzjoni Generali. Din l-emenda ser taghti d-dritt ta’ access ghall-informazzjoni f’idejn il-Kummissjoni Elettorali lill-kull partit politiku li jkun gie registrat minghajr diskriminazzjoni, u dan ghall-ewwel darba. Filwaqt li dan hu pass il-quddiem, mhux bizzejjed.
L-abbozz, kompla jghid Carmel Cacopardo, jitfa pizijiet finanzjarji kbar fuq Alternattiva Demokratika kif ukoll pizijiet amministrattivi godda u dan esklussivament ghat-thaddim tal-ligi proposta liema responsabbiltajiet ser ikunu jehtiegu inevitabilment l-ingagg b’impieg ta’ persuna biex taghti dan is-servizz. Alternattiva Demokratika m’ghandhiex ir-rizorsi mehtiega biex terfa’ dawn ir-responsabbiltajiet. Dan hu impatt li AD diga anticipat u ghamlet proposta specifika dwaru waqt il-konsultazzjoni pubblika dwar il-White Paper. Minkejja li l-Ministru tal-Gustizzja obbliga ruhu li jikkunsidra l–proposta ta’ AD, din giet injorata.
Carmel Cacopardo ikkonkluda billi qal li fil-granet li gejjin ser jiltaqa’ l-Ezekuttiv ta’ AD biex jikkunsidra is-sitwazzjoni qabel ma ssir laqgha mal-Ministru tal-Gustizzja dwar it-tibdil li hu mehtieg ghall-ligi proposta.
