From Mr M. Portelli

The result of the 1981 general election has always been a subject of heated debate and hysteria for many Nationalists. As if they are the champions of democracy, they have always lambasted the Labour Party for it and successfully managed to give the impression to the younger generation that the gerrymandering that led to the 1981 result was masterminded right before that election by Mintoff and other top party officials in an effort to remain in power at all costs. Recently, I skimmed through some history books and confirmed once again the filth and hypocrisy of the PN propaganda machine.

For the 1976 election, Mintoff lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. He also amended the Constitution, increased the electoral districts from 10 to 13 and raised the number of Members of Parliament from 55 to 65. The Nationalists accepted the aforementioned alterations as if there was no major dissent. The election was won by the MLP with a majority of 6,303 votes that meant a majority of three seats in Parliament. For the 1981 election, PN launched a massive campaign and under its new leadership the word was that the party had the election in its pocket. The result was: MLP 109,990 votes – 34 elected members; PN 114,123 votes – 31 elected members. Nationalist supporters went berserk and demanded another election while others a change in the Constitution (which stated that the party with the highest number of seats obtained wins the election). But it was all for nothing as the victory was consistent with the Constitution. The fact is that Mintoff was about to call another election, but his ministers stopped him and so continued to govern.

One must remember that gerrymandering in Malta was started by the Nationalist Party when it introduced an extra five Members of Parliament in the 1971 election in a desperate effort to remain in power. PN was well aware that unlike the 1962 and 1966 elections, the Labour Party was not going to face tough opposition from Archbishop Gonzi. A special Italian computer was brought over to compile the necessary alterations in order to gain a good advantage. It was then that the extra five seats were introduced. The Nationalists were once again responsible for gerrymandering when they returned to power in 1987.

The MLP, led by Dr Alfred Sant, won the 1996 election. With a majority of 7,633 votes it got three seats less than the PN. The number of seats was then increased (according to the Constitution) by four to give a one-seat majority. This wafer-thin majority in Parliament led to political instability. Dom Mintoff, who gave his life for the well being of the working class and arguably the best politician Malta ever had, was the spearhead of Labour’s downfall. Who would have expected that he would let down the same people who sacrificed their social dignity in the 1960s because they believed in his cause?

The PN were elected back to power 22 months later. With a majority of 12,817 votes they got five seats more than Labour. Why did the MLP only get a majority of one seat for 7,633 votes, while the PN got a majority of five for 12,817 votes?

I trust the readers’ common sense to draw a conclusion.

Michael Portelli

ATTARD