With regards to the debate in parliament on political party financing, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson Prof. Arnold Cassola said: “Evarist Bartolo stated that whilst the existing state funding for political parties should not be increased now, the option should be kept open for the future. PN MP Paula Mifsud Bonnici said that an established party like AD should also be included in party financing.
“We at AD reiterate that, while state funding might not be increased at the present moment, the existing state funding of 200,000 euros annually which has been allocated on a regular basis by government to PN and PL since 1994 should be distributed equitably in a manner which is respectful of the manner in which voters expressed their electoral preferences in the 2013 General Election.”
Carmel Cacopardo, Deputy Chairperson, added that Alternattiva Demokratika in its various meetings with Justice Minister Owen Bonnici have made a specific proposal. In fact AD has proposed that the Bill currently being discussed by Parliament should include a declaration in principle on the state financing of political parties to be implemented when Parliament considers it appropriate. In addition AD has proposed that state financing already being disbursed should be distributed among political parties that are registered in accordance with the Bill currently being discussed and have presented candidates in the last General Elections in which they either elected MPs or else obtained not less than 1.5% of first count valid votes cast.
“AD,” concluded Cacopardo, “has not to date been informed of Government’s reactions notwithstanding having submitted the proposal on the 28 July 2014.”
…
B’referenza għad-dibattitu parlamentari dwar l-iffinanzjar tal-partiti politiċi, iċ-Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, Prof.
Arnold Cassola, qal: “Evarist Bartolo iddikjara li filwaqt li l-fondi eżistenti mill-Istat għall-partiti politiċi m’għandhomx jiżdiedu issa, il-possibilita għandha tibqa’ miftuħa għall-futur. Il-Membru Parlamentari tal-PN, Paula Mifsud Bonnici, qalet li partit stabbilit bħall-AD ukoll għandu jkun inkluż fl-iffinanzjar tal-parititi.”Aħna fl-AD insostnu li, filwaqt li l-fondi tal-istat għall-partiti mhux neċessarjament jiżdiedu fil-mument prezenti, il-fondi statali eżistenti ta’ 200,000 ewro fis-sena li ilhom jingħataw lill-PN u lill-PL mill-1994 fuq bażi regolari għandhom jiġu mqassma b’mod ġust li jirrifletti l-preferenzi elettorali tal-poplu fl-Elezzjoni Ġenerali tal-2013.”
Carmel Cacopardo, Deputat Chairperson ta’ AD, żied jgħid li waqt numru ta’ laqghat li kellha mal-Ministru tal-Ġustizzja, Owen Bonnici, Alternattiva Demokratika għamlet proposti speċifiċi dwar dan. Fil-fatt, AD ipproponiet li l-abbozz ta’ ligi li qiegħed jiġi diskuss bħalissa mill-Parlament għandu jinkludi dikjarazzjoni ta’ prinċipju dwar l-iffinanzjar tal-partiti politiċi mill-Istat, li tkun imwettqa meta l-Parlament iħoss li jkun il-waqt. Barra minn hekk AD ipproponiet li l-iffinanzjar mill-Istat li diġa’ ilu jsir għandu jitqassam bejn il-partiti politiċi li huma irreġistrati skont l-abbozz li qiegħed jiġi diskuss bħalissa u li ippreżentaw kandidati fl-aħħar Elezzjoni Ġenerali li fihom jew eleġġew Membri Parlamentari jew kisbu mhux inqas minn 1.5% mill-voti validi fl-ewwel għadd.
“AD,” temm jgħid Cacopardo, “għadha sal-lum ma ġietx infurmata bir-reazzjonijiet tal-Gvern, minkejja li għaddiet il-proposti tagħha fit-28 ta’ Lulju 2014.”
