AD asks to be included in talks on democracy
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<http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080803/local/ad-asks-to-be-incl
uded-in-talks-on-democracy/>
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080803/local/ad-asks-to-be-inclu
ded-in-talks-on-democracy/
Sunday, 3rd August 2008 – 08:07CET
AD asks to be included in talks on democracy
Alternattiva Demokratika has written to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives saying it should be able to participate fully in the talks
on the reform of the electoral system and on the introduction of rules on
political party financing.
The talks are being held by the government and the opposition in a
parliamentary select committee chaired by the Speaker.
Stephen Cachia, Alternattiva Demokratika spokesman on democratic
institutions in his letter pointed out that in the 1992-1996 period AD had
participated on a par with the other parties both in the Gonzi Commission
for changes in the electoral system and in the Galdes Commission on
financing of political parties.
“It would be an enormous step backward vis-a’-vis democracy if, today, over
12 years later, the two parties in Parliament would be deciding exclusively
between themselves on an issue which directly involves other political
parties”. Stephen Cachia said.
“It is even more important than ever for Alternattiva Demokratika to
participate fully in the discussions because the government of the day only
commands a relative majority and represents less than half of the
electorate”
“Because of the present electoral system Alternattiva Demokratika, which
represents two and half times the difference between the two parties in
parliament (3810 voters), does not have a seat in parliament. It is
therefore even more imperative that the committee discussing electoral
systems and party financing should include AD in order to ensure the widest
possible representation of the Maltese electorate”, Mr Cachia said.
Online comments:
Romano Cassar (1 day, 5 hours ago)
Amending the constitution and the electoral law to ensure fair
representation is very much overdue. However the two large parties are only
looking out for their interests, no matter what they say (as an example, the
pensions cap does not apply to members of parliament). Change will probably
only be brought about if enough people call the bluff of the large parties
and vote AD.
B.Borg (1 day, 7 hours ago)
@ C. Camilleri, please my read again my comment, I only pointed out the fact
that this government was elected legally and according to our Constitution
by obtaining the highest number of votes. Honestly, I have no problem to
accept this fact.
And yes, you, I and all of us should always remind this Government with his
slim margin to deliver and keep the all promises made to us, the electorate
before the election (is something wrong in this?).
Vikki Attard (1 day, 21 hours ago)
In a truly democratic environment there would be no question of excluding AD
from the talks. The fact that AD should have to write to the Speaker of the
House to point out that it should be able to participate is a dire
indictment of the state of democracy in this country
Jo Said (1 day, 21 hours ago)
I fully agree with what Stephen Cachia said about the talks on democracy. I
also had pointed out in the press that the two big parties should stop going
to bed together over this issue. Democracy belongs to all of us and not just
to some schemers who hide in a dark room at the palace, somewhere, to sketch
their own fate.
Alternattiva Demokratika has been a roaring motor over the last two decades
and no one should even dare open discussions without AD’s presence. The
government of the day has no principles and therefore cannot be trusted.
With 47% of the valid votes cast last March, the PN is in a worst position
than Labour was during the eighties. The only difference is that they
legalised the possibility of the minority governing against the majority’s
will. Morally? That’s another story.
Wolfgang Helm (2 days, 1 hour ago)
From an European point of view I would support a participation of AD (and
other non elected parties) in the negotiations on the reform of the
electoral system in Malta. A non-partisan approach to tackling the problem
could help to improve the political climate and could strengthen confidence
in democracy at all.
Henrik Piski (2 days, 17 hours ago)
It is evident that we are not living in a very democratic society in Malta
when the actual government is having the majority of seats in Parliament
despite the fact that PN has not reached the 50%+ mark during the last
elections. Excluding the non elected parties from the discussions of the
revision of the electoral system and the political parties financing shows
how underdeveloped the understanding of democracy is in the parties
represented at Parliament.
Sabine Cassar-Alpert (2 days, 18 hours ago)
I think it’s about time Malta put an end to its half-half partisan divide.
Having the AD (and indeed, all other registered parties, as Mr B€ ¦üttner and
Ms Richards said) participate in talks about democracy should be the natural
course of action. Denying other political parties access to such discussions
puts a big question mark over the very topic of these talks!
J. Borg (2 days, 18 hours ago)
Somehow Labour and PN propaganda machines (and the latter much more), always
try to distort facts to fit in their own partisan objectives – at times it
is blatant but still cheekily go on.
I sincerely hope that Joseph Muscat wants to implement change, but facing
the PN propaganda is quite a tall order.
It is evident that having at least AD in the equation, will lead a credible
and objective analysis of what would be going on in these discussions and
all the manoeuvres in between.
AD played an important role in EU accession debate – and its direct
participation in hopefully these delicate change initiatives would again
prove instrumental in enabling liberal thinkers and voters reach their own
conclusions.
Oisin Jones-Dillon (2 days, 18 hours ago)
Effective democratic governability, as opposed to authoritarian instability,
is necessarily predicated on ALL party consensus on the electoral mechanism
and political party financing to actualize that outcome.
Mary Anne Zammit (2 days, 18 hours ago)
From a civilized country which is part of the European Union I expect more
respect to democracy and it would be highly unfair to leave out Alternattiva
Demokratika in participating in the talks on the reform of the electoral
system. AD may still not yet have a seat in parliament but as mentioned it
represents two and half times the difference between the two parties, so
even for the sake of those who voted for AD or those who want to see justice
in practice.
Martin B€ ¦üttner (2 days, 18 hours ago)
Too many people think that they would help the other party, if the voted for
a small party (AD for example). If all these people voted for AD, it would
have entered parliament already many years ago.
mark causon (2 days, 19 hours ago)
Dr Joseph Muscat leader of the opposition recognised the importance of
having Alternattiva Demokratika not just conculted with, but also party to
discussions on electoral reforms and party financing, therefor if we truely
believe in democracy and not just on paper but with actions, what is keeping
the government from including Alternattiva Demokratika to be part of the
discussions.
Joe Vella (2 days, 19 hours ago)
What is holding the AD and other Parties from making submissions to the
Parliamentary Committee that have been struck.
Gerald Fenech (2 days, 19 hours ago)
It is obviously important for AD to participate in the talks but there is no
doubt that at the end of the day, the final decision will definitely suit
the large parties’ interests. Our bizarre electoral system is a mockery of
democracy and it is in need of serious change but with the status quo
prevailaing, nothing much can be done.
W. Wirth (2 days, 19 hours ago)
I never voted to AD. Am always afraid that by voting AD, I will be helping
the ‘other’ party to win.
But I think that the attitude of some nats here (read C. Camilleri below)
makes me realize how blinded we Maltese are.
This summer I met my friends from Luxembourg and explained to us the
advances their country makes due to the fact that it got a multi-party
representation.
Carmel Cacopardo (2 days, 20 hours ago)
The point to be made on the current state of Malta’s electoral laws is that
it ensures proporionality only for the PN and the MLP and ignores everyone
else. This is the result of the current parliamentary parties deliberately
obstructing other parties from making it to parliament by formulating the
current rules between them.
What is required is a consensus on the applicable mechanisms between all the
political parties and subsequently ratified by Parliament. This would entail
striking a reasonable balance between proportionality and governability.
Effectively this should mean identifying a reasonable threshold which if
attained would translate into parliamentary representation.
Margaret Richards (2 days, 20 hours ago)
In his renowned book Animal Farm, George Orwell wrote “All Animals are equal
but some are more equal than others”………………i hope this won’t be
the case with democracy in Malta. I believe that in a democratic society,
even more where the government was elected by a relative and not an absolute
majority, ALL parties should take part in discussions, even more since these
discussions are related to Democracy in our country. So yes I fully believe
that AD should be not only present but also enjoys the right to put forward
any relevant suggestions and point of view.
C. Camilleri (2 days, 22 hours ago)
@ B.Borg. Please stop this nonsense and admit that the PN was elected to
Government legally and according to our Constitution. Many other Governments
in other Democracies were elected similarly and go on with their work
without having people like you reminding them of their majority of votes. In
1979 the Conservative Party obtained 339 seats out of a total of 635 with
only 43.9%. Nobody in the UK had ever doubted M.Thatcher legitimacy to
Government. In other European countries we often have Governments with only
relative majority.So please Mr. Borg and others accept the situation because
you are only hurting yourselves.
Martin B€ ¦üttner (2 days, 23 hours ago)
As all registered political parties will be affected by any changes in the
electoral system, all those registered parties should also be invited to
participate in the discussions about eventual changes. Allowing only the
parties represented in parliament would make such discussions just another
theatre play. It is a known fact that neither PN nor MLP are really
interested to change the actual electoral system as it could really lead to
a parliament with more than just 2 parties. But only that would mean real
democracy and progress in the Maltese political scene, a development which
Malta as a nation needs!
B.Borg (3 days ago)
@Malcolm Seychell
This goverment was elected with the highest number of votes, but did not
obtain the votes of majority of the people, something this government should
never forget.
Dr. John Zammit (3 days, 3 hours ago)
Even other political parties should take part as long as they are really
contesting the elections and though small so that they have the same rights
like the big parties and this should be a copy of the European Parliament
which include all the eight groups. Conservatives, Socialists, Liberals,
Greens, Communists (if any in Malta) extreme right and the others. In Malta
with the Malta Labour Party and Nationalist Party we have Alternattiva
Demokratika, Alleanza Liberal Demokratika, Azzjoni Nazzjonali, Alpha, Norman
Lowell’s party and probably the Communists – Zminijietna.
Dion Borg (3 days, 3 hours ago)
Whilst Dr. Joseph Muscat€ ¦’²s insistence to improve democracy in our country is
to be commended € ¦’¶ unfortunately historically both main parties have sought
their own interests at the expense of the national democratic interest time
and again.
Dr. Muscat has the opportunity to prove that he is truly invigorating the
Labour party and Malta€ ¦’² politics, by ensuring that discussions about
democracy commence and continue on a democratic footnote.
In this regard, the customary nauseating PN-MLP charades should be dispelled
and all those who have proved that they have an honest contribution to make
be an integral part of the discussions and more importantly, of the
subsequent implementation of the overdue changes to ensure democratic
representation.
Malcolm Seychell (3 days, 5 hours ago)
I think every party has a right to participate in talks about democracy if
we really believe in democracy.
Obviously the goverment can have the last say since he was elected by the
majority of the people
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