Imagine walking down Republic Street, Malta’s bustling capital, and every political poster you pass bears a small, discreet logo: ‘Funded by…’ Who’s behind these political campaigns? How much are they spending? And, perhaps most importantly, what influence do these funds have on our democracy? These are the questions the Daphne Foundation is urging us to ask.

Malta’s political parties are not required to disclose their donors or expenditure, a fact that has long been shrouded in secrecy. While parties are obligated to declare their income and expenditure to the Office of the Commissioner for Revenue, the details remain confidential. This lack of transparency has raised eyebrows and sparked concerns about potential undue influence.

The Daphne Foundation, named after the late journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia who was a vocal advocate for transparency, is now pushing for change. They’ve proposed a reform that would bring Malta’s political financing rules in line with international best practices.

The foundation is advocating for a comprehensive overhaul of Malta’s political financing laws. Their proposals include:

• Mandatory disclosure of all political donations, regardless of their size.
• Public registry of political party donors and their contributions.
• Cap on individual donations to limit the influence of wealthy donors.
• Ban on corporate donations to prevent businesses from buying political favors.
• Strengthening the Office of the Commissioner for Revenue to effectively monitor and enforce these rules.

These reforms aim to ensure that political parties are accountable to the public, not just their donors. They also aim to foster a fair and level playing field for all political parties.

Malta is not alone in grappling with political financing transparency. Countries like the UK, US, and Canada have all faced similar challenges. However, they have also shown that increased transparency can lead to greater public trust, reduced corruption, and more competitive elections.

For instance, the UK’s Political Donations Act of 2001 introduced stricter regulations, including a public registry of political donations. This has helped to increase public awareness and trust in the political process.

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