'No account before election'
The leaders of the two major political parties will not make their MEP candidates disclose how much they spent on their election campaign before Saturday's vote.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said there were still some days to go before the election and he did not want somebody to give a figure and then spend more money before polling day.
His counterpart uncharacteristically echoed what he said.
The Labour leader Joseph Muscat said he would be insisting that all MEP candidates conformed to existing laws on election financing but only after Saturday's vote, saying it was "useless" to do so beforehand.
"From experience it is only after the election campaign is over that one gets the full picture of expenses incurred. It would be useless issuing declarations now," he said, adding that in the parliamentary select committee he would be pursuing a reform of political party financing including individual candidate financing during elections.
But even a superficial assessment of the media advertising and promotional material in the public domain leads to the conclusion that a number of candidates have surpassed the legal limit on expenditure.
Legally, these candidates will be left with two options when the campaign is over: Either take a false oath or make a false declaration of expenses.
Electoral law stipulates that each individual candidate can spend up to €1,400 per district, which would translate to €18,200 for the European Parliament election when all of Malta and Gozo are considered to be one big district.
In fact, most of the 33 EP candidates on both sides of the fence failed to disclose their finances when questioned by The Sunday Times.
Labour's candidates mostly ignored the request. But the Nationalist MEPs were actually directed not to disclose this information - a directive which was inadvertently revealed by candidate Vince Farrugia, who forwarded an e-mail sent by the party's EP campaign chief with the instructions.
The e-mail, penned by Stefano Mallia, told candidates to say: "I am very taken up with the demands of the election campaign" and so am unable to give "a comprehensive and proper account of the expenses incurred for the election campaign which is still underway... Once the election is over I will ensure that all accounts are properly done."
When contacted, Dr Mallia refused to comment on the e-mail and simply repeated: "I'm not a PN official".
The Prime Minister on the other hand denied his party had issued instructions to MEP candidates.
"What the e-mail said was that details would be given after the elections are over," he said, pointing out that two of the party's candidates - Rudolph Cini and Alan Deidun - had in fact published their spend.
But this version was contradicted by the man who forwarded the e-mail, Vince Farrugia, who said, when asked why he did not publish his expenses, that he was "simply following the party's instructions".
About the gaffe itself, Mr Farrugia added: "Maybe I should have been given better instructions to be careful," pointing out that he was keeping a closer eye on his e-mails now.
He said although he did not think the party was happy about his blunder, he had "not really" received any reactions from the PN and had even sent his apologies to Dr Mallia about it.
The PN too denied that it was "in any way engaging its candidates to lack of transparency".
A spokesman for the party said it was standard practice for a party to coordinate interim replies to journalists during a campaign.
"The contents of the mail do not instruct candidates to keep their expenses undisclosed. On the contrary, the same mail advises all the PN candidates to disclose and submit, at a more practical time, a comprehensive and proper account of the expenses incurred for the election campaign," he said.
The spokesman said Dr Mallia was part of the team engaged by the PN to coordinate and manage particular areas related to the EP campaign and his mail was sent within the parameters of his remit.
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Dr Emmy Bezzina,EU Candidate
Jun 3rd 2009, 04:47
Shame on the major Political Parties for taking this stance.One hopes albeit apparently in vain that the Electorate will at some point realize whom actually they are voting in for.When so many people are suffering financial hardship,it is outright disgusting to witness some candidates spending thousands upon thousands of euro apparently to spite us all with the motto:Dare Me if you can.This EU Election has turned out to be a charade of partying when still most of those partying have no inkling about what they are partying for except that they are partying at somebody else`s expenses.
Our whole concept of campaigning is not only disproportionate but puts into a ridiculous light our so-called election laws and for instance the prejudicial-molded broadcasting regulations only intended to protect and expose the established status quo and the ``outsiders`` to steadfastly remain so!! The major political parties insult the people`s intelligence all the time,the people know this too,yet these parties go ahead insulting arrogantly one and all as they are aware that the people do not have the concerted political stamina to counter them.By people I mean also established institutions who have their vested interests to protect!
Marlene Vella
Jun 3rd 2009, 01:45
When the PLPN agree so openly, you really have good reason to worry.
This must be a true reflection of how they approach the yearly budget.... u wara naraw! Are we to believe their campaigns are not planned/budgeted at all? Let alone when they get the vote.
Nigel Lawrence
Jun 2nd 2009, 17:45
The leaders of the two major political parties will not make their MEP candidates disclose how much they spent on their election campaign
--and these are the people who want US to trust THEM? What a farce.
Oisin Jones-Dillon
Jun 2nd 2009, 13:00
Given the legally permissible national limit of €18,200 per candidate, the total expenditure of €14,300, promptly submitted by Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party to the Sunday Times, not only substantively corroborates its credentials as a clean, transparent and accountable political party, but attests to the consistent credibility of its MEP candidates, Arnold Cassola and Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer.
In stark contrast to many other MEP candidates, their integrity is not compromised by the sleazy immorality of having to contemplate deliberately lying under solemn oath or making false declarations of electoral expenses after the campaign.
Oisin Jones-Dillon
Anthony Slater
Jun 2nd 2009, 12:29
When are the political parties going to completely transparent with the taxpayers?
While we're at at, the public need an expenses breakdown of all politicians, just like what is happening in the UK.
Charles Micallef
Jun 2nd 2009, 11:02
I am not at all surprised that the major political parties want to keep this informatiom away from the voters, one has only to look at the amount of monies some candidates are spending on this election campaign along with the number of lavish buffet occasions in 4 & 5 five star Hotels.
Some of the candidates are also spending big money in advertising, and anyone who knows something about advertising costs, they would know that this is very extravagant publicity. One can also easily identify the candidates who did well out of this lucrative position.
I bet anyone that their slogan will be that they are contesting this Election to fight for our rights and Malta's & Gozo's best interests in the EU Parliament, and nothing to do with the very lucrative salary and expenses package that winning a European Parliament Seat brings along with it.
Long live sincerity!
john fenech
Jun 2nd 2009, 10:06
I am positive that our political parties uphold the law and will travel to the end of the world to make sure that their chosen candidates will not fall foul to the lady with the scales. Therefore after the 6th I am sure that the election campaign account for each candidate will be less than € 18,200!?