Council's big spender

Before long we shall find out whether to take at face value the MEPs' declarations about campaign spending taken under oath. Some have already disclosed their expenses as being below the stipulated amount.

I do not know whether to call it boldness or disrespect towards the establishment what Edward Demicoli has declared as being three times the sum permitted by law.

The Electoral Commission cannot sit on the fence any longer and has to abide by the legislation constituted by the highest institution, the Parliament, to safeguard fairness in any elections, whether general, MEPs' or the local council elections.

This legislation was specifically created to put candidates at par and not place any at a disadvantage, money-wise.

Rightly so, the focus was on the MEP candidates but a particular candidate contesting the local council elections appears to have exceeded every limit imaginable, lavishing free coffee mornings, sightseeing tours to entice foreign voters, gifts, expensive propaganda brochures, TV programmes and to crown it all a grand finale - over 2,500 guests were invited to a grand reception fit for royals. Of course, with the blessing of his party.

All this humbug for a mere mayoral post on a local council. One wonders if all this amounts to any obligations for past, present or future handshakes!