Although the two main political parties have still not agreed any deal on electoral reform, with talks on the issue having reportedly collapsed last week, there appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel.

Agreement on the subject became apparent after a heated discussion on a television programme on Tuesday evening featuring Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg and Labour Deputy Leader for Party Affairs Michael Falzon.

The discussion took place on Realta, which is presented by Brian Hansford on Smash TV, and also included PN Council President Victor Scerri and Labour Party Vice-President Louis Gatt.

At first glance, and after Dr Borg had presented the Constitutional Amendment on behalf of the Prime Minister for Gozo to be kept as a separate electoral district, the parties seem to be in agreement on this issue and there appear to be no reservations on either side. So on a theoretical level, Gozo as one district should be agreed upon in Parliament.

The fact that the tabling passed unanimously is also encouraging. However, in the much vaunted 1987 Constitutional Amendment, by which the 50 per cent +1 majority of seats was introduced, the PN had voted against in the first two readings of the Bill to protest against a proviso on neutrality.

The PN parliamentary group then voted in favour of the Bill’s third reading to pass the amendment that was sorely needed in order to prevent another electoral fracas.

Incidentally, if Ghajnsielem were to be removed from the 12th Electoral District and placed back with Gozo (13th District), the former would still be within the five per cent parameter limits at -4.14 per cent of the electoral threshold. Both Dr Falzon and Mr Gatt insist that a proviso should be inserted into the amendment to freeze any more amendments to the Maltese districts for a two year period, or at least up until the next general election.

However, both Dr Borg and Dr Scerri insist that it is up to the Electoral Commission to revise the districts and the government had absolutely no remit to interfere in such a matter.

The Electoral Commission has from two to five years to revise the electoral districts but it would be rather strange if a revision took place next year, when the country is so close to a general election – which will probably be held between February and May 2008.

Both Labour speakers insisted that the current revisions to the electoral districts are the fairest that have ever been introduced, an opinion echoed by Labour leader Alfred Sant in his Workers’ Day speech. The reapportioning does give Labour some distinct advantages: a possible reversal of the 1st District, a possible 4-1 majority in the Third District and the almost certain gain of a seat in the 10th District (due to PN stronghold Swieqi being exchanged for Gzira).

Another serious bone of contention is Labour’s insistence on a “majority prize” in the event of a three party parliamentary scenario. Labour is insisting that if one party gains 45 per cent of the vote, it be given enough parliamentary seats to govern regardless, if a third party (Alternattiva Demokratika) has, say, 10 per cent of the vote and seven seats in parliament. This proposal was repeatedly shot down by Dr Borg, who declared it to be a “non-starter”.

However, both Dr Borg and Dr Falzon seem to be in total agreement about retaining Gozo as one electoral district.

This came as rather a surprise, following the bitter recriminations exchanged between the two major parties in recent days, but a deal is far from carved in stone, due to the problems remaining on the “majority prize” and the possible electoral

district reform that could change the current scenario in a radical way.