Division of seats to reflect total vote

The Constitution is to be amended so that when only two parties are elected to the House, parliamentary seats will be assigned strictly in proportion to the votes each party has won nationally, Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg announced yesterday.

This will mean that the electoral boundaries will become irrelevant for the strength of the parties in Parliament, removing the possibility of gerrymandering to advantage either of them.

To date, the Constitution provides that a party which wins a majority of votes but gains only a minority of seats is credited with enough seats to give it a parliamentary majority of one, independently of the size of its lead at the polls. The proposed amendment reflects an agreement reached between the two parties last December to impose strict proportionality between seats and votes.

Speaking at a meeting of the House Business Committee, the minister said the amendment would be included in a Bill already before the House which provides that in the drawing up of electoral boundaries, the whole of Gozo will fall under one district.

The Bill will also provide that once Gozo is again fully integrated in the 13th district, the electoral boundaries will not be changed again before the next general election.

The Bill had already been given a second reading but following talks and an agreement between the parties it will be amended during the committee stage in the coming days. The debate will be one of the first items before the House when it reconvenes on Monday. The Bill will need the support of two thirds of the members of the House to be approved.

Dr Borg said the House next week is due to debate a Bill amending the Communications Act and a motion to ratify the Ship Boarding Agreement reached with the United States.

A Bill amending the Malta Enterprise Corporation Act and a Bill amending the Malta Resources Authority Act will be moved for first reading.

Speaker Anton Tabone, informed the House that the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association had asked whether Malta would be prepared to host the 2009/2010 meeting of its assembly. Both government and the opposition MPs remarked that one had to consider the financial and organisational implications, as such an assembly grouped some 600 delegates and guests, amounting to about 1,500 people.

The committee also agreed that the Chamber of Parliament will be open for visitors on guided tours during Notte Bianca on October 6.

The House is also expected to hold a debate on the Millennium Development Goals following a suggestion by SOS, a non-governmental organisation.

Dr Borg told the committee that as of Monday, MPs would have access to free parking at the Palace Square. This would not be restricted to the time of parliamentary sittings.