Charles Camilleri, Paola
Denial of right to vote from abroad
The South Africans will be going to the polls to elect a new government tomorrow. Like many other countries, South Africans who live outside their country are eligible to vote in the election. A total of 18,000 of them have registered to vote, with 7,500 registered voters in London alone. Hundreds have queued to cast their vote outside South Africa House in the last few days.
So a country which is considered, by our standards, to be backward, gives its citizens living abroad the right to vote while Malta, supposed to be an advanced nation and a member of the European Union, denies its citizens this right and compels them to come over here to exercise their right as Maltese citizens.
More insulting is the recent fact that the Opposition has objected even to the facilities offered to Maltese citizens to vote before going abroad to represent their country.
Nobody except our MPs knows the reason why Maltese citizens who happen to be abroad are not provided with facilities to vote in our embassies.
Judging by the recent objections from the Opposition it seems that we still have to wait for some time before we can say that the Maltese will come in line with people of other countries in this regard. In the meantime those living abroad have to be content with the present cumbersome situation until the time our politicians decide to change the law and treat the Maltese citizens as grown-ups.
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Michael Pace
Apr 21st 2009, 19:51
I'm a Maltese citizen who have been living outside Malta for nearly forty years. I agree that the - perhaps hundreds of thousands - people in such a situation should not have the same influence in an election as the people who live in Malta and have to be directly governed by whoever is elected. I would like, however, being a Maltese citizen, and being, although more indirectly, by our Maltese government, to have some say in the choice of government. How about a number of representatives of expatriate Maltese in parliament? Or, say, a hundredth or a thousandth of a vote - Maltese resident voters to decide how much - so that, in such a limited way, we expatriates may have a small say in the way we are governed? Why should we be treated as if we were the same as the other six and a half billion people who are not citizens of Malta?
C Meyer
Apr 21st 2009, 13:35
Just to let you know South Africa is definitely not backward. I am not sure if you have been there but if you had to go you would change your mind.
GaleaL
Apr 21st 2009, 12:45
I agree that we should facilitate voting for those who ARE eligible to vote.
However, we must ensure that they really have a right to vote according to our laws.
For why should someone who has been living for years away from Malta and never paying any tax in Malta be able to decide what I, a Maltese citizen living in Malta and paying my taxes in Malta, what government I should have and what taxes I should pay etc?
And don't say these things don't happen for we remember clearly when dead people also voted in the sixties.
And people living away for tears are known to come back and vote notwithstanding that they had lost their right to vote.
While on this subject, why does the Government not publish on line the electoral register so that anyone interested can check whether another person has a right to vote?
Steven Brockwell
Apr 21st 2009, 12:07
being on holiday is one thing living abroad means you made the choice to try and find greener pastures. so what does give you the right to vote for a country you are not living or being affect by what ever vote you may cast? home affairs are for people living at home. as for the holiday, well if voting means that much to you don't holiday during election times?
B Agius
Apr 21st 2009, 11:31
Hand on my friend. Who told you Malta is an advanced Nation? What exactly is Malta advanced in? I love Malta but in many respects Malta says it is advanced but behaves/feels and presents as anything but. Except in brochures, books, and PR of course! The only sector that is similar to advanced Nations is the majority of housing. Anything that's outside the Maltese house is haphazard and less than advanced!
Marion Pace
Apr 21st 2009, 11:21
Those living abroad should vote for the country they are living in. Those studing but are going to live in their country of origin then those have the right to vote.
Michael Brass
Apr 21st 2009, 10:42
South Africa has the most advanced infrastructure on the African continent. We have hosted world cup and major events, and are recognised around the world for this (amongst others). Living conditions are a mixture of 1st world (beating many 1st world countries in fact) and 3rd world. To say SA is backward by comparison to Malta is insulting and ignorant of any resemblance to reality. I recommend visiting the country before making stupid comments.
You also fail to note that only South Africans over here on work visas are currently allowed to vote.
On the bright side - of which there are few in the article - Maltese should be granted the right to vote abroad as should citizens of any country. Malta is far from along in denying citizens living overseas the right to vote and this is wrong.
William P flynn
Apr 21st 2009, 10:34
"Nobody except our MPs knows the reason why Maltese citizens who happen to be abroad are not provided with facilities to vote in our embassies."
I know why. It's because no one has taken the trouble and expense to challenge them in a competent court.
Maybe someone will put his or her hand up to organize us expatriates.
Joe Cassar
Apr 21st 2009, 09:27
Could Mr Cammilleri be a bit more specific about the alleged "recent objections from the Opposition"?
As far as I know, it was the Labour opposition which fought for the right of the participants in the Small Nations Games to have the right to vote for the MEPs.
I suspect that Mr Camilleri is one of those who assume that anything and everything that is not right is the fault of the LP.