The Malta Independent on Sunday reported that Malta’s new Parliament, with a record-breaking total of 79 MPs, is costing the taxpayer at least €1,460,819.7 annually.  

Some would argue that this is a lot, others would argue that it is not. This number is likely on the low side. Keeping in mind that there are direct orders being handed out for over €1 million for certain projects, however, it might not seem like that much.

Now the argument that there are too many MPs for Malta’s size is a valid one. In truth, this country needs full-time MPs, but having 79 full-time MPs with higher wages would be quite costly.

The idea of full-time MPs would have its pros and cons. For example, full-time MPs would be able to dedicate all their time to representing the people, part-time MPs cannot. But, the prospect of becoming a full-time MP and losing your profession, especially a lucrative one, could dissuade some of the better minds in the country from going out for politics.

So perhaps giving the option for full-time MPs is the way forward – having a mix between the two. The full-time MPs would, of course, require a better financial package. Hopefully, the Gender Balance Mechanism has kickstarted the process in Malta for more women to be elected through the normal voting procedure, and next time round it would result in a smaller Parliament.

But one thing is certain. MPs, be they full-time or part-time, need more resources. It is unfair that the Leader of the Opposition only has a driver, no research staff. Obviously Cabinet members need and have staff to help govern and also to help research and gather data for responding to Parliamentary questions, drafting bills etc. So it is right that they have this staff. But at the same time, shouldn’t the political parties in Parliament also have a staff to research the bills being tabled by government? Shouldn’t they have a staff to help study the countless reports being published?

We are not saying that each MP should have a staff of two or more, like the European Parliament, but the parties themselves, or at the very least the party in opposition, should have a staff available of at least three or five people to help with research. The government backbenchers are meant to scrutinize the government – although it is practice in Malta for this not to happen. But in order to actually do that they might need research staff or legal minds to help them understand the bills being put forward. Not every parliamentarian is a lawyer.

It is very difficult for a part-time MPs to both have a full-time job and at the same time keep up with every bill making its way through Parliament. This is why some form of research staff for parties might be a way to ease the burden a bit and ensure better understanding of what is being proposed.