Labour’s decision to bring down in the minimum age needed to apply for party membership from 16 to 14 is a step beyond what the Nationalist Party had decided last year, The Malta Independent is informed.
The Labour Party’s recent move has led to criticism that this could lead to politicizing childhood and is being seen as a move towards early indoctrination.
The Prime Minister said yesterday he was surprised at the level of disapproval that had been voiced after Labour’s announcement, given that the PN had implemented what he said was the same measure last year.
Yet, there’s a difference.
The Nationalist Party had also lowered the age at which people could become party members – lowering it from 16 to 14 – but there is a one important dissimilarity.
Speaking to The Malta Independent, a PN official explained that the minimum wage for party membership was indeed decreased to 14, “but with the proviso that if we have an election for leader or deputy leader, then only those who are 16 and older can vote”.
“They can vote for their representatives in the TeamStart PN.”
Labour did not make the same proviso, meaning that 14-year-olds would be able to vote in a new leader and potential prime minister.
TeamStart PN is part of the youth wing of the Nationalist Party for those between the ages of 14 and 18, and its members internally vote for their youth representatives.
The PN official explained that deputy leaders and Leaders are elected by what is known as a convention, and members of the convention are aged 16 or over.
When asked about the recent reduction in age for membership in the Labour Party, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that he noted that PN had previously reduced the membership age to 14, “and nobody said anything.”
“I expected that the criticism would be that the PL is doing this two years after the PN. I see some double standards in this type of criticism, but it is criticism that we take into consideration. We will not chase after any children or make them join the PL, but there is a section of youths who feel engaged in politics. We saw it during out Annual General conference."
He said those approaching the PL are already convinced of the party's principles.