The debate on how the funding of political parties is to be regulated was rekindled lately in the Maltese political scenario. This debate was revived recently when a Nationalist MP tabled a Private Member’s Bill with a draft of extensive legislation in this regard and due to the recent scandal which shook the Italian political scene, and specifically the Lega Nord political party, which led to investigations in connection with state funds allegedly used by Bossi’s family for personal matters.
The present administration needs to take a stand on this topic. Money matters a great deal in politics because modern political parties need ever increasing resources for administration, research, internal organisation, marketing and election campaigns in today’s sophisticated and advanced economies. The GonziPN administration has long been stating that action needs to be taken in this regard, but to date has failed to do so. Such an action or lack of it raises the suspicion that the government of the day has no interest in doing so, especially now that a general election is fast approaching.
The first initiative taken by the PN in government was that of appointing the Galdes Commission in 1994, which then produced a report in 1995. This report contained constructive proposals that focused mainly on the way in which the State could finance political parties. But the government stopped there and did not move progress further.
Today, I strongly believe that it should not be the government’s priority to finance political parties from the people’s taxes, especially now that there are other more serious matters which need to be funded. Nonetheless, the government should introduce regulations regarding the donations received by political parties without further delay. This should take place to ensure that a level playing field is established in the political arena to the benefit of all those who contest the elections. A second objective is that the money should not be allowed to buy access to decision-making power. In the light of recent events, the public has awakened to the issue of party financing and its links to allegations of possible corruption and scandals in the award of government contracts. The government cannot turn a blind eye to the doubts and suspicions these events have formed in many people’s minds. Otherwise, suspicions of illicit or non-ethical activities would be strengthened rather than mitigated and this in turn increases the people’s lack of trust in our political system.
The GRECO (Group of States Against Corruption within the European Council) of which Malta forms part has already brought the fact to the government’s attention that it is not in conformity with its criteria in this regard. The draft forwarded by the government failed in many aspects in the evaluation carried out by GRECO last October, notwithstanding the fact that the government had been following the developments taking place in GRECO as a member of the said Group. It transpires from the GRECO’s Evaluation Report that the draft did not even cover important aspects and basic obligations; such as the obligation of the parties to render accounts and to report donations of a substantial amount, the obligation of the parties not to accept anonymous donations, the obligation to keep proper books and accounts and the obligation to compile consolidated accounts of companies under the direct or indirect control of the parties, to ensure that these documents are accessible to the general public, to ensure that independent audits take place and the implementation of appropriate penalties for those who do not abide to these regulations, which penalties should be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.
The Private Member’s Bill covers a lot of these aspects. It definitely contains an adequate basis, yet what is worrying is that it was presented around January of this year and to date the government has failed to take it further.
We, as the new generation in Maltese politics, cannot allow this to happen. The Labour Party’s objective of being a progressive and moderate movement is clearly based on the people’s active participation and contribution in any decision making process. Transparency in the manner political parties function ensures that money does not contaminate the decision-making processes by government entities or authorities. This shall be one of the ultimate objectives of any new and modern politician and an objective of the Labour Party of which I form part.
If the government was genuinely interested in regulating this area, the first thing it should do in the light of the situation it created itself, is to move the draft forward for discussion through the Leader of the House as soon as possible. This would be the first step in regaining the people’s trust in political parties and reshaping their perception that politics is moved by money.