Take Money Out of Maltese Politics: A Reality We Can Fight For
Imagine this: Malta’s political parties, instead of raising funds for elections, are given a fixed budget by the government. No more corporate donations, no more wealthy benefactors. Sounds like a dream? It’s not. It’s a reality in some countries, and it could be ours too.
Money Talks, But Who’s Listening?
Political financing in Malta is a hot topic, and for good reason. According to the Times of Malta, the 2017 general election cost around €12 million. That’s a lot of money, and it’s no secret that those who donate expect something in return. But what if we could change that? What if we could take money out of Maltese politics?
Lessons from Abroad
Let’s look at Ireland. In 2015, they introduced a system of public funding for political parties. The state provides money based on the number of votes a party gets. No more relying on wealthy donors. The result? A decrease in political corruption and an increase in public trust.
Closer to home, Italy has a similar system. Parties receive state funding based on their electoral performance. They also have strict limits on private donations. It’s not perfect, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Making it Happen in Malta
So, how can we make this happen in Malta? First, we need to push for stricter regulations on political financing. We can start by demanding transparency in political party funding. Let’s know who’s giving what to whom.
Next, we need to advocate for a system of public funding for political parties. This could be based on the number of votes a party gets, or the number of members it has. The details can be worked out, but the principle is clear: let’s take money out of politics.
We can also learn from our local NGOs. Many of them have successful crowdfunding campaigns. What if political parties could fund their campaigns this way too? It would bring politics closer to the people, quite literally.
Imagine walking down Republic Street in Valletta, seeing political parties not begging for money from businesses, but from you and me. Imagine seeing political campaigns funded by the people, for the people. That’s a future worth fighting for.
It won’t be easy. Change never is. But it’s possible. It’s possible if we demand it, if we push for it, if we make it happen. Because at the end of the day, our democracy is worth fighting for. And it starts with taking money out of Maltese politics.
