Sunday, 28th June 2009
EP candidate spent €52,000
A Nationalist EP candidate has disclosed that he exceeded the legal spending limit during the campaign by over €30,000, but several other candidates are still refusing to disclose their expenditure.
Edward Demicoli provided The Sunday Times with a detailed account of campaign costs totalling €52,000, even though he said his campaign was "by far" less costly than that of certain others. The amount excludes any expenditure by the party on his behalf.
Mr Demicoli paid some €7,500 from his pocket, while the rest came from individuals who organised events on his behalf or paid some of his promotional costs.
The electoral law states that each candidate may not spend more than €18,635 (Lm8,000) on the campaign, including personal expenditure and that by third parties, whether financial or in kind.
Candidates have up to July 17 to declare their expenditure to the Electoral Commission and an oath must be taken with the declaration. If a candidate admits to having exceeded that limit, he will not be allowed to serve if elected. If not elected, the candidate is subject to a fine.
Mr Demicoli did not take out full page adverts in newspapers, as certain other candidates did for several weeks, and the leaflet he distributed to households was modest compared with the booklets sent out by some. The only free merchandise he distributed were 1,800 mugs, while others distributed a variety of promotional items from websites.
When Mr Demicoli was asked why he was taking such a stand, he quoted the murdered Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya who is renowned for her fearless exposure of corruption.
"The real cost of political cynicism is rejection by the younger generation. Truth-based politics would help mitigate the cynicism people are feeling towards politics in general," Mr Demicoli said.
While saying the electoral law "is being broken by almost everyone", he insists he refuses to take a false oath.
"I regret my expenses exceed the legal threshold and are in violation of the electoral polling ordinance. However, I was not motivated by a desire to engage in what the law calls a 'corrupt practice', but by a desire to have a normal campaign," Mr Demicoli said, adding that he was prepared to defend himself before the appropriate court if called to do so.
Candidates can choose to take the oath privately with a notary of their choice.
Since no representative from the Electoral Commission will be present to verify the oath-taking, The Sunday Times asked candidates from the two main political parties to grant access to reporters.
Edward Demicoli agreed, as did PN candidates Alan Deidun, and Rudolph Cini. PL candidates Christian Zammit, Maria Camilleri, Claudette Abela Baldacchino and Steve Borg also had no objection.
However, none of the five elected MEPs has committed to allowing any reporting of their oath.
In the last general election, the Labour Party let candidates take the oath privately. PN candidates met at a party club behind closed doors.
The Prime Minister said last week he would be "extremely worried and disappointed" if anyone took false oath.
PN candidate Alan Deidun, whose published expenditure is within the legal limit, said: "Who will actually scrutinise in detail the financial state-ments submitted, and what action will be taken against defaulters?"
PL and PN candidates who did not disclose expenses
Simon Busuttil (PN - MEP)
David Casa (PN - MEP)
Louis Grech (PL - MEP)
John Attard Montalto (PL - MEP)
Edward Scicluna (PL - MEP)
Joseph Cuschieri (PL)
Sharon Ellul Bonici (PL)
Marlene Mizzi (PL)
Roberta Metsola Tedesco Triccas (PN)
Glenn Bedingfield (PL)
Kirill Micallef Stafrace (PL)
Alex Perici Calascione (PN) Frank Portelli (PN)
Marthese Portelli (PN)
Vince Farrugia (PN)
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Comments
One of your main view in the runup for the MEP election was hunting.
You wanted to eradicate spring hunting for all (legal & illegal hunters) even though it was a promise made by your party, MIC (which you were employed in) and government (all the cabinate) and the prime minister.
When Maltese hunters say they want to be as par with the EU hunters, who apply derogation to hunt in spring and trap in autumn, you were against. Then you say 'However, I was not motivated by a desire to engage in what the law calls a 'corrupt practice', but by a desire to have a normal campaign'
So you want to be like the rest, but then you do not want us hunters to be like the rest of the EU hunters, and to benefit from a derogation (which was guaranteed, in black & white, signed by EFA as a primeminiter and endorsed by MIC)
You want a whole cake for you and crumbs for the rest.
But ended up yourself with the crumbs.
Costly crumbs one must say.
Cheers.
Better luck next time!!
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This is very worrying indeed.
It is quite obvious that there is a disgusting lust for power that should be checked as it gives politicians a very bad image.
And it is quite obvious that some board of political etchics should be formed by an independent citizens to scrutinize the campaign spending.
Most probably this is a normal thing that takes place in all EU countries blessed by the sacred bureacratic gods of Mount Olympus.
The most baffling thing is that if one takes into consideration the amount of eligible voters all around the EU and the numbers of votes cast, it clearly shows that the EU citizens do not give a toss on who is elected.
A very sad, sordid and sleazy chapter of this Utopian idea, something that increases the gulf between Mount Olympus and the people.
Some candidates have clealry flouted the law and get away with it..
One of the many reasons that people like me have a particular dislike to what Brussels stands for and what it forcibly rams down the citizens throat.
Can the EU sort this out? I am not sure!
Carry on with the circus!
(Edward Demicoli provided The Sunday Times with a detailed account of campaign costs totalling €52,000, even though he said his campaign was "by far" less costly than that of certain others.)
It seems to me like sour grapes and Edward Demicoli is stumping his foot like a little child screaming 'not fair' !!!!!!!
He is admitting to breaking the law by exceeding the legal spending limit whilst saying that it was "by far" less than...............................
On the other hand......should Malta and the Government stick to its laws, It is very much apparent that none of the elected MEP's will be serving!!
Or isn't it??
Just to make it clear, I had declared that I spent more BEFORE the election. I have given the exact amount spent when asked to do so by the times this week.
Wrong calculation
€18,200 DIVIDED by 13 Districts = €1,400 ...
Check out this abstract from a timesofmalta.com article:
During the national election, the limit is €1,400 per district. For the MEP elections, Malta is considered to be one district, and since the candidates need to reach the whole country, this figure is multiplied by 13 (the number of districts in national elections).
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090531/local/e-mail-gaffe-exposes-pns-gag-directive
The Electoral Commission should look into the Federal Elections Commission of the US and import or as we say from the EU transpose the US laws and practices into Malta. With the push of a button a citizen can print out donations made by name, category, profession, state, name of company, name of candidate etc. And the system I used was of 1992 when I toured the presidential campaign that was won by Clinton (it's the economy stupid campaign).
We have to cut this crap. Let us modernise our electoral laws and beef up the Electoral Commission to be able to supervise the elections by its own powers, regulate candidates finances and also party financing.
Malta cannot modernise some of its structures - unless the main pillars and institutions are modernised pari passu, democracy will fail. People will lose their trust in the fundamental structures that defend our democracy and liberties.
ALPHA LIBERAL PARTY congratulates Sunday Times journalist Caroline Muscat for having set the ball in motion :we must have a recount minus the abusive candidates!
I'm looking forward to have as our MEPs
Alan Deidun, Rudolph Cini, Christian Zammit, Maria Camilleri, Claudette Abela Baldacchino, Steve Borg, and Arnold Cassola.
Any volunteers ready to drop out?
All this money so a chosen and select few can join the Brussel GRAVY TRAIN.
Malta has gone MAD.
Get the so called MEP riff raff to show their expenditure and have them audited. Shows who are the FAT CATS in the island and their greedy ambition in life makes them stop at no boundaries. Shame, and they pretend they are the intellectual class of people. Bunch of Fraudsters the whole lot of them.
Then how come he joined the PN??
No “truth-based politics” coming from there mate.
I refer to the comment made by Dr. Alan Deidun that the 'expenditure
is within the legal limit', I assure everyone that it is true because many
work was carried out by voluneers and without any obligation even if
he was elected as a candidate. It is hopeless spending a lot of money
without rendering any votes. In my opinion Alan worked it out very intelligently
with a few people and the result was there. He accepted as a candidate
only three months before and the result was there 3239 votes.
THANK YOU ALLAN
Is there any doubt left out there that this country is not a banana republic?
The AG and Commissioner of Police are duty bound to investigate any infringements of the electoral law. This is not a case of someone stealing a car stereo or someone smoking a joint but an affront to the very democracy which many political hypocrites claim that they value so highly. While the Armed Forces are deployed on the streets in an effort to find someone carrying an ecstacy pill or a marijuana cigarette and these lawbreakers are hit with the full force of the law, here we have individuals who have pushed themselves to represent us in the EU's highest institution, blatantly breaking electoral legislation which is there to ensure a fair and level playing field to all prospective candidates.
Hats off to Caroline Muscat who has pursued this matter doggedly without fear or favour. One hopes that those trusted with upholding the law of the land will be equally determined and tenacious in their investigations. Corrupt practices in elections are the biggest threat to democracy.
End of story, call an election for new MEP's.