Malta Developer’s Association President Sandro Chetcuti has called for the abolition of the donations to political parties system, noting that it should be replaced with a system of public financing for the parties.

Speaking to Prime Minister Robert Abela after welcoming him at the MDA’s offices in Guardamangia on Friday, Chetcuti highlighted that a radical change was needed to Malta’s political system to ensure that the country continues to move forward as a modern European state.

“Our members are sick of being associated, many times unjustly, with donations to political parties and are victims of a bad system which can lead to a lot of needless suspicions”, he said.

Chetcuti also highlighted that recent events had damaged Malta’s reputation and, by extension, the construction industry, urging Abela to make all the “obvious” decisions quickly and without delay so that Malta’s image can be repaired.

In what was the first time a Prime Minister has visited the MDA’s offices, Chetcuti said he wanted to share two main thoughts: firstly, with regards to the present situation and the reputation of the country and secondly, with regards to the need for a “radical” change in the political system.

On the first, Chetcuti said that the MDA is naturally worried about the current situation, particularly with regards to the reputation of the country.

He noted that recent developments had interfered somewhat with this rhythm, including in the MDA’s sector, before also noting that the association is worried most about the damage which has been done to Malta’s image abroad.  Strengthening Malta’s reputation abroad should be given “absolute priority” by the government, Chetcuti said.

“We are observing a less confident market, investors who are holding back, and a slower demand.  We are also worried about the manner in which banks are not helping at all in the present situation”, Chetcuti told the Prime Minister.

He said that this is why the MDA urges the government to clearly show that the major storm that the country had passed through can indeed pass, and that together the country can come out all the better for it.

On the second point, Chetcuti said that the MDA would like to see a more modern and professional political system.

He said that if we truly want to be a modern European country, we need to have a professional political system which is full-time and not part-time. “Politics isn’t a hobby, but those who go in for it need to push themselves at all times for the common good of society”, he said.

This is why, he said, the time has come for a professional and full-time parliament accompanied with an adequate salary for all those who are ready to drop everything and sacrifice themselves to serve the country.

Chetcuti noted that the state needs to recognise that political parties, whoever they are, are a crucial part of democracy.  With this in mind, he said that the MDA is in favour of the introduction of public financing for political parties and the abolition of the donation system.

“Our members are sick of being associated, many times unjustly, with donations to political parties and are victims of a bad system which can lead to a lot of needless suspicions”, he said.

He told the Prime Minister that for the country to be returned to being a “normal” and “serious” country then the obvious and necessary changes need to be carried out quickly and without any delay.  In this sense, he said, the MDA appreciates the calls coming from civil society in this context.

‘Good governance complements the economy’ - Abela

Prime Minister Abela, who was flanked by new Environment and Planning Minister Aaron Farrugia, meanwhile said that there is no doubt that the construction industry is a key motor for Malta’s economy, recalling how far it had come since 2013 when Chetcuti himself had told him that their industry is “in ITU”.

He acknowledged that recent events have indeed had an impact but that in the coming days the situation will return to a move forward.

He said that he was pleased that Chetcuti had mentioned good governance and spoke of how it positively affects the market, noting that he could never understand those who said that one needs less governance for the construction sector to improve.

“It is a concept which doesn’t make sense; in fact I always believed that good governance complements the economy”, he said.

He said that the signals needed to get the country back on track had been given both locally and internationally and there have been positive messages from overseas in this regard.

Abela said that the right signals have been given in the first week of government had been given in terms of governance, but there is the need for balance between good governance and the economy, with the former not being allowed to interfere with the latter.

He said that the construction industry will not be tied down as long as things are done in a “cautious, prudent, and intelligent” manner, before also emphasising the need to obtain a balance between the environment and planning so that they complement each other – which is why, he said, he had joined the two under one ministry.

He said he was looking forward to the positive, especially with regards to building regulations as well, noting that it is important for neighbours to construction sites to be respected.

He said he looked forward to strengthening the sector which has been a key motor for the success of the country, and noted that the door is always open for discussions.

The meeting then continued behind closed doors.