Editorial
What counts most is the spirit of the law
If the two main political parties think they can take the electorate for a ride as easily as they must have thought they could when they jointly wrote to the Speaker of the House of Representatives over the election expenditure issue, they are mistaken.
It may very well be the case that the masses that follow the two parties care very little about whether or not the candidates standing for election in their parties exceed the expenditure limit but the parties appear to keep forgetting the fact that the segment of uncommitted voters within the electorate is growing larger, not smaller, as shown by the results of recent elections. These people are not amused at the way the two parties have tackled the issue so far. If the Nationalist Party and the Labour Party are not aware of this sentiment, then they are distancing themselves from such voters.
Uncommitted voters must have surely taken notice of the parties' reaction to the issue and will definitely not forget it when the time comes for them to cast their vote again. It was only after the campaign for expenditure disclosure, spearheaded so vigorously by our sister newspaper The Sunday Times, reached its peak that the two parties finally decided to write to the Speaker urging for the select committee on constitutional change to discuss and revise regulations on election expenditure.
If the two parties had been aware of the fact that the election expenditure limit was too low, as they must have surely been, why have they taken so long to take action?
Arguing now that the law as it stands is full of ambiguities, and that, to boot, it is open to different interpretations, as it may very well be, will not absolve candidates who overspent in the election of their wrongdoing. The law is the law and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi clearly allowed for no leeway when he said, well before the expiry of the time limit for the declaration of expenditure, that he expected all candidates to abide by the law. In view of the ambiguities indicated by some of the candidates, it may have been difficult following the letter of the law but what counts most is the spirit of the law.
According to an analysis made by The Sunday Times, at least eight MEP candidates appeared to have exceeded the legal limit of €18,635. Two candidates have admitted before a magistrate that they indeed did so and all the five elected MEPs have declared that their campaign expenses were within the limit. Two other candidates have filed a judicial protest calling for an investigation into the expenses of the candidates.
Claiming that several had breached the limit allowed by law, the two want the Attorney General to do his duty and order the Police Commissioner to look into the matter.
Many belonging to the segment of uncommitted voters would surely not be impressed by the argument as to when exactly a candidate is considered a candidate in the eyes of the law. It will be well for the select committee to go into the definition when the time comes for the law to be amended but, in the context of the present issue, the argument has been generally seen as political quibbling. Finding loopholes and ignoring the spirit of the law greatly undermine what ought to remain the most important asset in any politician's armoury: trust.
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J. Bonnici
Jul 22nd 2009, 20:49
Dear Editor you could not have put it better regarding the mess in campaign overspending by certain candidates contesting both for the MEP’s and LC elections. Your editorial reflects the recent comments expressed by many in different articles, letters and opinions. The pubic is aware that great injustice has been committed and the joint effort to minimize the effect by the Prim Minister and the Opposition leader caused mistrust and scepticism amongst the committed and uncommitted voters. One cannot change the law to favour oneself once an offence has been committed in order to lessen the punishment. The electoral legislation is clear on campaign expenditure by candidates and is also clear on the penalties for breaking such law. Hopefully the Attorney General does his job to the letter. ‘VIVA R-REPUBBLIKA!’
john fenech
Jul 22nd 2009, 18:09
This editorial should sound the alarm bells yet again for the PN although the deadline is somewhat distant! As if the political and economical pressures of world recession and third world emigration is not enough the PN scrupulously manages to generate a few home grown howlers just to keep it ticking!
Yet the boys in blue see nothing, amiss that some of their top echelon should quote the written Law and fastidiously side step the spirit of the Law, this attitude will deprive equality and promote the culture of first among equals!
Robert Mifsud
Jul 22nd 2009, 17:26
I am a committed voter and voted in both elections that of the 6th of June. Frankly I voted for PL honest candidates, those who abided by the electoral law. Because I am absolutely contrary to the idea that candidates of whatever election are elected on the value of money campaign, on how many gifts were distributed, how many free coffee mornings were held, how many full page adverts were published and attractive costly brochures were handed out? Worst than that on how many 'grand receptions' held at well known estates and paid by candidates or by the so called ‘hbieb tal-hbieb’ .This is certainly not fair and anti-democratic to other candidates. More so IN BREACH OF THE EXISTING ELECTORAL LAW or better still financial modern dictatorship. Yes the spirit of the law that counts. Other interpretations are said just to misguide honest citizens. The Attorney General is responsible to see that laws are abided by everybody.
V. Darmanin
Jul 22nd 2009, 17:04
Prosit sur Editur for today's editorial message. The letter sent jointly to the Speaker of the House by the two leaders, Dr. Gonzi and Dr. Muscat raised a few eyebrows and is not going to stop honest citizens in criticizing the way the June elections evolved , that of the MEP's and Council elections were held. The Political Parties must be ashamed of themselves in permitting such scandals. Fejn sejra d-demokrazija ta’ Pajjizna li missirijietna tant iggieldu u ssieltu ghaliha? The excuses brought forward by Triccas and Casa are just political jargon. The spirit of the electoral law vis-à-vis the candidates’ spending on elections, whether for MEP's or others is quite clear. Let us not play with words and treat honest citizens as a bunch of fools. I am a committed voter and I do care about the overspending by candidates in elections. Candidates should be at the equal par in these elections. For the sake of democracy, candidates should not be elected on the influence of money or from the sustainability of 'unknown third parties'. The law is there for everybody, and it should have been abided by all candidates.
r ferriggi
Jul 22nd 2009, 14:51
your last sentence of the editorial says it all.
nothing to add except that i am one of the many citizens who are feeling the political class in malta are taking us for a ride.
all,,, if not most politicians that is.
there is not many that i can trust. i may agree or disagree with political ideas and ideologies,,,, no problem.
bu when trust is undermined,,,,,,, (( just look at waht is happening in Italy)).
a whole farce ( or you may call it a tragedy).
Mario Stellini
Jul 22nd 2009, 14:07
@Charles Sammut
Thank you for providing that link on how politicians spend there time in Brussels.
I think now people can now start to wake up to the real reasons as to why our beloved politicians are so keen on getting a sixth seat in parliament. I somehow doubt it is because they really believe that extra vote in a parliament of about 800 will make any real difference.
Charles Sammut
Jul 22nd 2009, 11:37
These developments are truly separating the weath from the chaff as far as politicians are concerned.
It is now abundantly clear where the interests of certain MEPs are. This youtube video is an eyeopener. The arrogance is shocking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnMtc_QJ4-E
Dr Emmy Bezzina,EU Candidate
Jul 22nd 2009, 11:04
You have the uttermost gratitude of all non manipulated minds in this country relating to the TIMES EDITORIAL of Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009. Thank you. I can assure you that the two Candidates who filed the Judicial Protest of July 6th this year DO NOT DESIRE either to embarrass their beloved Country or to take the matter up to the Highest Court within the EU if regrettably the necessity were to arise which hopefully it will not if the AG,the Commissioner of Police, the Electoral Commissioner and the two main Political Party Leaders accept that our Electoral Laws were violated flagrantly and the EU June 6th Elections are indeed null and void. Nothing less would be accepted as that would be an arrogant insult to all who voted and an explicit acceptance that Democracy in this country has NO VALUE except within the parameters of the subjective,introspective and egotistical interpretation attributed to it by those who were entrusted at the people`s expense to safeguard the fundamental values of our Democratic Laws.
No Letter to the Hon. Speaker,no haughty NO COMMENT attitudes,no passing of the Responsibility Bucket will be tolerated. ANNUL & CALL FOR FRESH ELECTIONS!
P Pace Balzan
Jul 22nd 2009, 11:02
Facts:
-The commission erases hundreds if not thousands of votes.
-Thousands of Voting documents were never delivered.
-Candidates have breached the electoral conditions.
Truth:
-One big joke.
Question:
-Have the Maltese understood the concept of the EU?
paul sciberras
Jul 22nd 2009, 10:48
I do not see why this subject is given so much coverage by the press.Why should we want to tell some prospective MP or MEP how much to spend and how to spend it.The way I see it,is that if people give the vote to a prospective canditate because he invited them for a drink and some finger food and not on his merit then they will get the MP or MEP they deserve.