Parties agree on 'election' of sixth MEP in June
The two main political parties have agreed that the election of the sixth Maltese member of the European Parliament would be based on the outcome of June's elections even though the successful candidate would only take up the seat in Brussels if the Lisbon Treaty enters into force.
The Nationalist and Labour parties felt such an arrangement would give the electorate full control of who to send to Brussels. They were expected to hold talks over the coming weeks to pave the way for changes to electoral laws in time for the June 6 elections, spokesmen for both parties said.
Malta had managed to secure the allocation of an additional MEP during negotiations on the Lisbon Treaty, increasing it representatives in the Parliament from five to six. However, the Irish rejection of the Treaty scuppered plans to have the European Parliament's new representational structure in place by June.
Malta's sixth seat will only become available if and when the new Treaty enters into force in January, should the Irish electorate give its consent in a second referendum expected to be held in autumn.
Although Malta can elect its sixth representative by direct nomination from the Maltese Parliament, both the Nationalist Party and the Labour Party (PL) recognise that this is not the best way to go.
Paul Borg Olivier, the PN's general secretary, said the electoral system provided for the election of five members to the European Parliament, so one could not categorically provide for a sixth seat without changing the law. However the PN, he added, favoured the idea that the electorate should choose the potential sixth MEP in June.
"The PN looks at the issue in a sense that the sixth seat in the European Parliament, as and when allotted to Malta, should always reflect the will of the electorate at the time of them casting their vote in electing their representatives. The party believes that the parameters of this process should be made clear before the country is called to cast its vote."
Labour agrees and goes one step further, suggesting how the sixth seat should be chosen.
"Our preferred option for discussion is to have the candidate who places de facto sixth in June's elections to be Malta's sixth MEP when and if the Lisbon Treaty finally comes into force," PL spokesman Kurt Farrugia said.
However, although this may sound simple, an election observer explained that the issue was quite complicated and had to be addressed through changes to the electoral law. "Although the two parties are agreeing that Malta's sixth potential MEP should be chosen in June, one has to see how they will be sorting out the issue of how to calculate the sixth place. Will it be the runner-up on an electoral quota calculated on five or six seats?
The sixth placing could result to be different if calculated on a quota based on five or six seats."
Another option. the observer said, would be to leave the process unchanged and then make a re-count of the votes based on a quota of six seats when the sixth seat eventually became available.
However, according to the observer, the PN and the PL should be able to sort this dilemma out before proposing the necessary changes to the electoral laws.
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r ferriggi
Mar 27th 2009, 08:47
can someone enlighten us exactly about the PERKS that these MEPs have?
All of them,,, including the facility or allowance to take whole groups to brussels on all expenses paid ''familiarisation visits'' !?!
someone may say - this is not to our charge but of the EU......!!
J. Borg
Mar 26th 2009, 14:58
@ Mr. Mifsud
Hope we're not already starting the PN scaremongering campaign....
'Close relationship between Arnold Cassolla and PL'?
Do you consider healthy open dialogue as less warranted, then the barrackading off that GonziPN adopts in relation to AD?
Maybe you are not aware that the 16% national threshold in general elections makes it very difficult for AD to be representing - thus the vile "wasted vote" campaign calls by the PN for something they themselves devised?
As to EP votes, the electorate is not electing any party - but electing individual representatives that can integrate and influence the respective groups in the EP, in Malta's best interest.
Apart from possibly Simon Busuttil I see no other candidate on the PN's ticket (or PL for that matter) who has Arold Cassolla's experience and influence to be really as effective in the EP.
But there again, the PN knows this - and that's why they will be depolying their scaremongering tactics and above all insisting on a quota based on 5. I just hope GonziPN can prove me wrong!
Manuel Mifsud
Mar 26th 2009, 12:10
An agreement on this issue will be of beefit to all, particularly to the PN. I believe the PL will once again obtain a majority of votes in the EP elections thereby retaining its 3 seats. With something over 45% for the PN, it will be more than sure to keep the 2 seats which it now has, plus an eventual third seat. Dr.Cassola lost a golden opportunity to be elected this time round due to his party's close relations with the LP. Maybe he forgot that he got most of his votes in the last EP elections from disgruntled PN supporters, so much so, that in last year's general election those votes returned to the PN fold.
e.cortis
Mar 26th 2009, 09:59
Let's not forget that for the Lisbon Treaty to become operative, it needs to be approved by the 27 EU member States. So far, Germany, Poland, the current Presidency, The Czeck Republic, and Ireland, have still to ratify it. With the latest parliamentary turmoil in the Czeck Republic, and the scepticism of its President, and the same situation in Poland, together with the unknown outcome of the forthcoming Irish Vote, and the somewhat unclear status of the German position, it is not so clear what will happy by January next year. So many unknowns coming from such prominent members !!.
J. Borg
Mar 26th 2009, 09:30
It is evident that calculating the quota on the basis of 5 seats will boost the chances of the two main parties to get another of their canditate in.
For the sake of plurality, and something close to proportional representation the quota should be calulated in 6 seats.
It will just be a small step forward to mitigate the undemocratic 16% national threshold currently imposed in general elections.
It is also peculiar that having a government that does not enjoy the endorsement of the majority of the electorate - such 'talks' have been restricted to the usual PNPL group who unfortunately are known to seek their own party's interest rather than the nation's long-term interest.
Let's see whether GonziPN can start adhering to the EU democratic principles!
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