Political parties today agreed that their audited accounts should be published online.
Parliamentary Consideration of Bills Committee is discussing Party Financing today.
The Bill originally read that the finances would be made available to the public at the Commission building, however the PN MPs also wanted it available online.
Minister Owen Bonnici argued that it would not make a difference as anyone could go to the Commission and see the documents, however the PN pressed the point.
The Justice Minister argued that the idea was based on the declaration of assets by MPs, to which PN MP Chris Said explained that the Decleration of Assets regulations were created during a time when the internet was not widespread. Eventually the two sides came to an agreement.
Disagreement over who should be the regulatory authority is still persistent.
Government want the electoral commission, however the PN have objections to this. PN MP Chris Said explained the Opposition's worry that party information that is meant to be kept private would be leaked to the opposing party.
Justice Minister Owen Bonnici does not agree with this. Dr Said clarified his point, explaining that the Commission, when organising elections, has many checks and balances in place and is closely watched by the parties, and the PN would prefer a Commission elected by a 2/3rds Parliamentary majority.
Later in the discussion, it was also agreed that parties who do not submit their annual audited accounts on time will be fined €10,000 each year. Parties will be given 4 months from the end of the year to submit their audited accounts. A small debate broke out over a possible 7 day extension should they miss the deadline, with some MPs explaining that this was unfair, as the everyday citizen would not receive these seven days.
During the discussion Attorney General Peter Grech had suggested that accounts of companies owned by parties might not need to be included, however both sides pounced on the idea, expressing the need for them to be included. Dr Bonnici also highlighted the political flak a party would get for not publishing said accounts.