Election Desk: Show me the money (or don’t?)

Imagine this: it’s election day in Malta, and you’re standing in line at the St. George’s Parish Hall, the sun beating down on your back. You’re not just waiting to cast your vote, but also to see if the candidate you’ve been supporting has been keeping their promises. Suddenly, you notice a familiar face from the local business community, standing nearby, looking anxious. They’re not worried about who’s winning, but about where the money is going.

Money Talks, But Who’s Listening?

Money in politics is not a new phenomenon, but in Malta, it’s a topic that’s been making waves recently. With the upcoming local council elections, the question on everyone’s mind is: where’s the money coming from, and where is it going? The Malta Independent reported that political parties have spent over €1.5 million in the 2019 European Parliament elections alone. So, where does all this money come from, and who’s footing the bill?

According to the Electoral Commission’s guidelines, political parties and candidates must declare their donations and expenditure. However, the threshold for declaration is set at €2,000, meaning that smaller donations can slip under the radar. This has raised concerns about transparency and accountability, with some calling for stricter regulations.

Follow the Money

So, who are the big spenders in Maltese politics? According to the Times of Malta, in the 2017 general election, the Labour Party spent over €1 million, while the Nationalist Party spent around €700,000. But it’s not just the major parties that are spending big. Independent candidates and smaller parties are also shelling out, with some spending tens of thousands of euros on their campaigns.

But where does all this money come from? Some candidates are self-funded, but many rely on donations from individuals and businesses. While some donations are made public, others are not, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest and the influence of money on political decision-making.

Transparency: The Elephant in the Room

Transparency is a hot topic in Maltese politics, and with good reason. The Panama Papers scandal highlighted the need for greater transparency in political financing, and recent years have seen calls for stricter regulations on campaign donations.

In 2019, the Nationalist Party proposed a bill that would introduce stricter regulations on political party financing, including lower declaration thresholds and stricter penalties for non-compliance. However, the bill was voted down by the Labour Party, raising questions about their commitment to transparency.

Labour, on the other hand, has implemented some measures to increase transparency, such as publishing the names of donors who contribute over €10,000. However, critics argue that this is not enough, and that more needs to be done to ensure that political financing is transparent and accountable.

But what do the candidates themselves have to say about all this? Hot Malta caught up with a local candidate, who wished to remain anonymous, who told us, “Money is a necessary evil in politics. We need to find a way to fund our campaigns, but we also need to ensure that we’re not selling our souls in the process.”

What Can You Do?

So, what can you, the voter, do to ensure that your voice is heard, and that your candidates are held accountable? Here are a few tips:

• Do your research. Find out where your candidates are getting their money from, and how they plan to spend it.
• Ask the tough questions. Don’t be afraid to challenge your candidates on their financing and how they plan to ensure transparency and accountability.
• Vote. The most important thing you can do is make your voice heard at the ballot box.

Remember, in a democracy, it’s not just about who you vote for, but also about holding them accountable. So, as you stand in line at the polling station, don’t just think about who you’re voting for, but also about where their money is coming from, and where it’s going.