Malta’s Election Cash Crisis: Show Me the Money (Or Don’t)?

Imagine this: it’s election day in Malta, and you’re standing in the bustling queue outside the St. George’s Hall polling station in Valletta. The sun is beating down, and you’re sweating, but you’re not thinking about the heat. You’re thinking about the money. Or rather, the lack of it.

You see, Malta’s election system is unique. It’s one of the few democratic countries in the world that doesn’t have state funding for political parties. No public money means no taxpayers’ cash going into political campaigns. But is this a good thing?

Malta’s political parties rely heavily on private donations to fund their election campaigns. But with no strict regulations on transparency, it’s often unclear where this money comes from. This lack of transparency has raised eyebrows and sparked debates about the influence of private interests on Maltese politics.

Take the 2017 general election, for instance. The Nationalist Party (PN) spent around €1.5 million, while the Labour Party (PL) spent about €2 million. But where did this money come from? We don’t know. The Electoral Commission only requires parties to declare their spending, not their sources of funding.

Transparency International Malta has been calling for stricter regulations on political party funding for years. They argue that the current system leaves too much room for corruption and undue influence. But change has been slow.

In 2019, the government promised to introduce new laws on political party funding. But two years later, we’re still waiting. The COVID-19 pandemic has, of course, delayed many things. But with an election looming, the issue of political funding is back in the spotlight.

So, what’s the solution? Should Malta introduce state funding for political parties? Or is there a better way to ensure transparency and fairness in political funding? These are questions that Maltese voters will have to grapple with as we head towards the next election.

One thing’s for sure: the system needs an overhaul. Because in a democracy, the people should be the ones with the power, not the deep pockets.

As PN MP Jason Azzopardi puts it, “We need to ensure that our democracy is not for sale. We need to know who’s funding our political parties, and we need to put an end to the influence of private interests.”