Christiane Sullivan, Għargħur
Non-Maltese treated as second-class citizens
I cannot help feeling very irate with the Maltese Electoral Commission over the fact that, as a non-Maltese EU citizen, previously registered on the European Union Electoral Register, my name, and it seems the names of some 900 others like me, has been unjustly removed from the same register.
By what authority can anyone decide to arbitrarily remove a person's name from the electoral register without first clarifying with that person what his/ her position is vis-à-vis such an action?
I know for a fact that no such clarifications were carried out. I have in the meantime been told that non-Maltese EU citizens, previously registered on the EU Electoral Register, have until May 8 to lodge an appeal against the Maltese Electoral Commission, by appearing in person at the Electoral Commission in Valletta and filling out a form.
Non-Maltese EU citizens will then need to present this form to the Law Courts registry to start a whole legal process in order to be included in the Electoral Register. And if that weren't already enough, non-Maltese EU citizens may even be asked to appear in court!
I am tired of Maltese bureaucracy! I question why non-Maltese EU citizens are treated like second-class citizens.
I question why it is so hard for the Maltese Electoral Commission to simply reinstate all EU citizens whose names had been illegally removed from the register. I question why these 900 or so non-Maltese EU citizens have to now beg to be allowed to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming European Parliament elections.
I find this attitude totally unacceptable!
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Franco Farrugia
May 8th 2009, 08:20
@ Ms P Galea - First, I wish to apologise for the insensitive, disgusting tone with which I Galea addressed you. Please, believe that not all Maltese people are that way; nor do we think the way he thinks. Point made, I hope.
With regard to the argument in hand, I am sure you are aware, that a Government, in malta, is elected from either of two polarised, political parties and sometimes, by a handful of votes of difference. This situation has no equal in Europe, you have to understand this. This is the reason why in Malta, we tend to be more sensitive - and yes, careful - about who votes and who does not vote.
If you had to ask me, I would say that those who are temporarily away from the island - for work, study or health reasons - should not have their names removed from the Register; however, those who left Malta for good should not be allowed to vote. The same applies, in the same measure to foreigners in Malta.
The problem, of course, is how and where to draw a line. Not easy to get proof of temporary or permanent departures.
Mark Thorogood
May 7th 2009, 15:12
@Albert Muscat
"Ref my previous comment down here I would like to emphasize that all EU citizens in Malta have the right to vote in coming June election."
not if they have been deleted, illegally, from the electoral role, which is the whole point of the letter
Albert Muscat
May 7th 2009, 14:09
@Christiane Sullivan
Ref my previous comment down here I would like to emphasize that all EU citizens in Malta have the right to vote in coming June election.
Remember- such right gave AD chairman Arnold Cassola the right to contest in Italian election.
P. Galea
May 7th 2009, 09:37
@ l. galea
Who are you to decide who is a Maltese citizen and whose not? My husband is British and has lived in Malta for eight years always worked and paid his taxes like most of the Maltese population who work and then you turn round and say ‘FOREIGNERS are simply guests and NOT Maltese citizens. For us you shall always continue to be FOREIGNERS.’ I believe that people like my husband have the same rights as Maltese people. WHERE does this'For US' come into it, speak for your self please!!
lgalea
May 6th 2009, 22:24
Tanja Grixti
Yes we should leave the eu because we have become again a colony being dictated to by FOREIGNERS in OUR own country.
"The commission should make such payments in future dependent on how much Malta respects EU laws!"
Do you think that any amount of money from the eu pays for the destruction and havoc that the illegal immigrants are causing to Maltese society?
And get your sums right.
7,000,000 / 365 = 19178 / 10,000 illegal immigrants = 1.9 euros always assuming that the government has repatriated around 3,000 ILLEGAL immigrants something which everyone except those who do not want to see doubts.
S. Snegereva
May 6th 2009, 20:29
Ms Sullivan, you think non-Maltese EU citizens aren't treated well enough?
Well, try being a NON- EU non-Maltese citzen! There are services which the Maltese and EU citizens get for free, yet for non-EU it will always be double or triple the price!
So be thankful for what you have. If you're second class, then non-EU are 3rd class.
Peter Murray
May 6th 2009, 20:04
What is all this nonsense about so-called foreigners?Anyonere here legally and holding accreditated documents verifying such is first and foremost a citizen of the world,then an EU citizen if holding nationalty of an EU member state.Why should xenophobia rule here or even come into play ,for how can an EU subject possibly be considered as a foreigner in any event?.What is being demanded here is a level playing field and same rules being applied across the board to all eligible citizens.Pure and simple.It shouldn't matter if you are Chinese,Japanese,Knock-Knees or Dungarees for the rules should be similiar to the Three Muskateers code.."ALL FOR ONE-ONE FOR ALL".
Tony Gatt
May 6th 2009, 18:36
Don't get upset at the likes of Igalea, Christiana, the Maltese are just as good at being nasty to each other as they are to foreigners.
Dear Igalea-as long as Malta goes with the begging bowl to the E.U., Malta will do as it is told by the E.U. so get real.
Frank Meier
May 6th 2009, 18:14
@lgalea: Is it so difficult to understand that any EU Citizen can vote in any EU Country? That is the law and fullstop. If Malta does not agree then all voting rights of Maltese Citizen in other countries should be removed ASAP. Better would be to remove Malta from the EU if it thinks it can get only money but does not need to follow the laws.
We are not talking here about UK - we are talking about the EU!
I am EU Citizen but NOT Maltese and I have been removed from the register as well. Since the Maltese seem to be more and more against foreigners on the island I consider to move my IT company (employing more than 10 Maltese) to Cyprus. The people there seem to be more open minded and with 10% tax the environment is more business friendly.
We should remember the history. The people which left Germany in the early 30ties survived!
Albert Muscat
May 6th 2009, 18:07
Five years on-And the Maltese haven’t digested the EU membership yet.
Ms. Christiane Sullivan is perfectly right, however she ‘failed’ to appreciate the Maltese phsyociliogal effect and ‘Self-interperation' of what the word Non-Maltese entails.
Here I give a clue. For the majority Non-Maltese means the following list:
Illegal African immigrants.
Arabs.
Libya.
Gaddifi (and sometimes Dom. Mintoff)
Muslim (Terrorism invasion-Ben Laden-Islamic laws)
Culture change.
Taking tax payers money
Stealing our jobs and a threat for our kid’s future
EU is not about chemistry. EU is simply like a gigantic company with a cross borders and multi-share holders. The sign board of this company reads: No taxation without representation.
We should get used to refer to French, Germans, British or any EU citizens not as foreigners but citizens.
I know it’s a bit hard for many Maltese to digest this fact, but this is the best form of democracy money can buy.
Mark Thorogood
May 6th 2009, 18:04
could I ask those who are so vociferous in attempting to deny us EU foreigners our legal rights to identify which party they support, to help us EU foreigners in deciding who we should (and shouldn't) be voting for ?
Denis Catania
May 6th 2009, 17:44
@Christiane Sullivan: Welcome to Malta, where illegal immigrants have more rights than a EU citizen. I hate to break the sad news, but you are treated as a third class citizen.
1st Class Illegal immigrants.
2nd Class Maltese
3rd Class EU Citizens.
lgalea
May 6th 2009, 16:37
Mark Thorogood
Maltese citizens only vote in the UK because the UK wanted them to.
We do not want foreigners to vote in our general elections and determine the result of what government we have.
"soon, non-Maltese citizens living in Malta will also be able to vote in Maltese General Elections" That will be the day.
If you think that you are going to vote in our national elections you can forget it.
As for voting in the EP elections again foreigners should not decide what MEPs are elected to represent us.
Stephen Peters
Since you referred to illegal immigrants, wouldn't it be better to direct them to your country since you colonized many countries and stole their natural resources?
FOREIGNERS should NOT have a say in OUR internal affairs. FOREIGNERS are simply guests and NOT Maltese citizens.
For us you shall always continue to be FOREIGNERS.
victor caruana
May 6th 2009, 16:22
Christiane
You are an immigrant and according to the PN government policy and its MEP's you are not entitled to vote. As long as a U turn is not in the making!!!!
Tanja Grixti
May 6th 2009, 16:20
Last year the EU gave an additional 7 mio Euro cash to Malta to cater for the refugees. Considering the amount of refugees and 365 days/year that are 20 Euro/refugee/day. For 20 Euro a day you can stay already a day in a low class hotel. So it was a good extra pocket money for Malta. The commission should make such payments in future dependent on how much Malta respects EU laws!
Tanja Grixti
May 6th 2009, 16:17
joseph cachia: We are talking here about the EU and EU matters! EVERY Maltese national has the right to vote in ANY EU country. The same right EVERY EU citizen has in Malta. Should Malta does not like it it should leave the EU!
Galea. L: Before you post comments you should make sure you understood the matter! If you are so much against foreigners please give me a favour and make sure that your wage does not depend on foreign income! Do not work in tourism, IT, Ship Building, Manufacturing etc!
maltese Government: If "my" EU candidate is not elected to parliament I will file judicial protest in Brussels and ask for the election to be repeated! The current behavior just shows again how urgent we need international election observers here in Malta (like in third world countries).
pscerri
May 6th 2009, 16:02
@John Azzopardi
These are European Elections and not Malta Elections and every EU citizen has a right to vote wherever they may be residing.
"The vote should be reserved for the citizens of a nation and nothing else" - as i just said we are all EU citizens and in this case are not 'foreigners'!!!
@lgalea
I wonder if you would stand for your vote being taken away? If a non Maltese EU Citizen was on the Electoral Register and voted in the last elections, I can't see any 'sudden urge' in wanting to vote.
B Agius
May 6th 2009, 14:55
That's the attitude John Azzopardi. Instead of appreciating that some people chose to live in Malta and thereby, most probably, contribute to your own standard of living, you try to insult them! Unfortunately it's one of the traits/skills many Maltese are good at!
Stephen Peters
May 6th 2009, 14:46
For the second day running we find messages about FOREIGNers.
I hold a UK passport but am a resident and tax payer of Malta.
Since Malta has become part of the European Union, we are no longer foreigners, but family.
At the heart of the Christian Gospel is openess and generosity to strangers and visitors and Malta has so far always had a deeply Christian reputation.
But it is not surprising when there is such hostility to those legitimately here that "Irregular immigrants" whose needs are greater within the commands of The Gospels, feel even more unwelcome.
We are moving into the season of Festa when Religion is celebrated and paraded. But, I suggest, it is not a religion that Christ would recognise, when His basic commands of love and generosity (especially to those in need) are not being more readily embraced.
joseph cachia
May 6th 2009, 13:52
Christiane if we give you the right to vote on a MALTESE MATTER, then automatically we are
giving you the right to interfere in OUR national affairs.
As a NON MALTESE you are only an EU citizien, but not a MALTESE national, so like it or not you are always our guest, no matter what the EU say. Among us MALTESE you and anyone else like you are always FOREIGNERS. The pity is that against our wish you enjoy some right's in MALTA.. Of course as our host we will always show respect.
Galea. L
May 6th 2009, 13:26
John Azzopardi
Agree with you 100%
mark johnson
May 6th 2009, 13:22
You are wrong John. Maltese in the UK can vote in local and european elections, it's only general elections they can't vote in.
laurence schembri
May 6th 2009, 13:16
Just ignore John Azzopardi, he has no idea what he`s talking about. Some of the foreigners living here are not by choice but duty, running firms and companies employing local people.
IGalea, it is called a democratic right.
Tony Gatt
May 6th 2009, 12:25
I see xenophobia is still alive and well and living in Malta. All E.U. citizens have a right to live (and work) anywhere in the E.U. That's the whole idea!
Enjoy Malta, Christiane, not all Maltese are xenophobic.
Mark Thorogood
May 6th 2009, 12:14
@lgalea
"I wonder why all this sudden urge by FOREIGN citizens to vote in the EP elections."
I wonder why all this sudden urge by some to prevent us exercising our democratic rights. I voted in the last EU election in Malta, and intend voting in the next one. I'm an EU citizen, just like you, and I live in Malta, just like you, so I have the same rights as you
J Elder
May 6th 2009, 12:11
John Azzopardi:
This isn't about local elections but EU elections. As an EU citizen of whatever nationality I should be able to vote in EU elections no matter where in the EU I may reside. When I moved here and applied for an I.D card I was specifically asked by the authorities if I wanted to register to be eligiable to use my EU vote in Malta instead of my country of birth. So I went through the process of filling out and signing forms, and have now found out it was all in vain. I was also told that by filling the form out my name would be removed from the EU electoral register in my home country...so now I do not even have the option of going home to use my EU vote should I want to. It's back to filling in forms and chasing my rights.
Mark Thorogood
May 6th 2009, 12:07
@John Azzopardi
"Only citizens of a nation (and this is all over the world where democracy persist) do citizens vote. "
incorrect
1. Maltese citizens living in the UK can vote in General Elections in the UK
2. EU citizens can vote in whichever EU country they live in, in EU and local elections
These are EU not Maltese elections
soon, non-Maltese citizens living in Malta will also be able to vote in Maltese General Elections
Frank Borg
May 6th 2009, 11:56
@John Azzopardi: Why foreigners should be able to vote? Because it is EU law! Because Maltese citizen can vote abroad as EU citizen can vote in Malta. It is is as that.
Do not forget this is an EU election and not a Maltese election
Frank Malia
May 6th 2009, 11:46
@lgalea: Please do not forget that those 900 foreigners are mostly working in the tourism sector and contribute a lot to our GDP, they make sure that tourists actually visit Malta, etc. Just imagine the state of our economy without those foreigners. Hotels can close, the IT sector would not exist and Smart City would not be on the agenda.
So why should Malta insult our friends and risk lots of jobs? Why risking that the election has to be repeated? Etc.....
Well, one answer I might have. In most EU countries it is common practice to give the EU votes to the opposition to have a balance between national and EU parliaments.....
Frank Malia
May 6th 2009, 11:42
@lgalea: There is not a sudden urge. Those 900 people voted in the last EU election have all legal right to vote in this election!
The process of "re-registration" is in breach of E.U. regulation 93/109/EG Paragraph 9.4 which states: "Community voters who have been entered on the electoral roll shall remain
thereon, under the same conditions as voters who are nationals, until such time as they
request to be removed or until such time as they are removed automatically because they
no longer satisfy the requirements for exercising the right to vote." All person having been on the previous electoral register should remain on the actual by default.
Should Malta not respect this regulation ANY candidate who does not win a seat can challenge the election result in court and the Maltese election might have to be repeated.
If someone joins a club such as the EU someone has rights and duties. Those rights and duties are known before. If someone wants only the rights but not the duties this someone (Malta) should consider to leave the club.
John Azzopardi
May 6th 2009, 11:33
Why should foreigners have the right to vote. Only citizens of a nation (and this is all over the world where democracy persist) do citizens vote. Even Maltese citizens who live abroad cannot vote (which Idisagree with). The vote should be reserved for the citizens of a nation and nothing else. They are the once who have a large interest/stake in the motherland not some foreigners who chose for their own purposes to live among us.
lgalea
May 6th 2009, 10:49
I wonder why all this sudden urge by FOREIGN citizens to vote in the EP elections.
Tony Gatt
May 6th 2009, 10:23
Why bother Christiane? Two thirds of the people here in the U.K. don't know there are European Parliament elections comining up, let alone will vote. Bear in mind that the U.K. is one of the biggest financial contributors to the E.U. People here see MEP's as being on a gravy train.