Nikki Abela
‘Time for prisoners to vote’
Malta’s prisoners are still denied the right to vote, six years after the European Court of Human Rights ruled that such a ban was unlawful.
The possibility of an amendment was put in motion after a parliamentary debate on the issue in March. However, little has been heard on its progress. For prisoners to achieve access to this right, a constitutional amendment needing a two-thirds majority in favour would be required for it to pass through Parliament.
Left wing pressure group Żminijietna last week voiced its stand for the inclusion of prisoners in the voting system.
“At present, 18 European countries have no restrictions on prisoners’ voting, while in France and Germany a decision to disenfranchise a prisoner is left to the courts,” it said.
When contacted, MP and lawyer José Herrera and criminal lawyer Joe Giglio both agreed Parliament should pave the way for prisoners to vote in elections.
“The fact that a person is found guilty does not mean he has lost his citizenship or that he has lost interest in the running of his country. Seeing they have lost their liberty is punishment enough,” Dr Herrera said.
A former prisoner told The Times how excluded he had felt when he was behind bars during the EU referendum.
Fr Mark Montebello, who founded the NGO Mid-Dlam għad-Dawl that works with prisoners and their families, said: “This exclusion gives way to the idea that a sentenced person is no longer considered to be part of civil society and is in a sort of social exile.”
At present, a prisoner serving a term longer than one year is not allowed to vote. However, recent amendments gave this right back to citizens serving a suspended sentence.
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Czarb
Jul 2nd 2010, 12:42
Its ironic that a person who had hindered society by doing a crime should be allowed to have a say in it. Its like allowing Milingo to have a say in the Vatican's politics. BTW shouldn't the Vatican implement democracy for a start?
M.Cachia
Jul 2nd 2010, 12:14
I love Fr. Montebello's comment. I thought the point of prison was to remove criminals from scoiety. Last time I checked prison was a punishment.
D.Galea
Jul 2nd 2010, 12:53
And if I may ask, in which era are you living Mr.Cachia?
Robert Agius
Jul 2nd 2010, 13:15
perhaps you should update yourself. Last time I checked it was a place for rehabilitation, or well, supposed to be.
M.Cachia
Jul 2nd 2010, 14:20
Rehabilitation also - but it's not supposed to be like going on training camp. Prision is there to segregate you from society because you are not fit to mix with society. As a prisinor you have been determined as not fit to walk the steets and participate in daily life - therefore why should they be given the biggest andmost valuable civil right - to vote?
Like it or not prison is there to punish as well.
Robert Agius
Jul 2nd 2010, 18:36
Not fit for society? perhaps in some cases but such reasoning brings everything closer to 1984. Which social class is more prone to being put to prison? very easy and foolish to ignore such matters. You start from the point of view that all men are equal (a vote is about the only thing that is equal nowadays). Then i suggest that you get back to reality.
Robert Callus
Jul 2nd 2010, 19:05
@M Cachia
You are completely wrong. Segregating people from society is the exact opposite of rehabilitation. It will only make a person worse not better.
Prison is a punishment by restricting the person's freedom of movement. The main reason for which is to act as a deterrent. Because you commit a crime, you get a punishment (otherwise there is no deterrent) which is not necessarily prison. It doesn't mean you aren't part of society anymore.
M.Cachia
Jul 2nd 2010, 20:08
Well we're getting to the point were I tell you that not all men are equal and that not everyone should have the vote - but probably you'll bite my head off so I won't
D.Galea
Jul 2nd 2010, 20:31
Mr.Cachia, I feel I have to interject again to compliment Mr.Callus he couldn't give you a better definition of a prison sentence, not only that but there are also a number of convention which support such interpretation, please snap out of your lynch mob mentality.
J Farrugia
Jul 2nd 2010, 11:46
Prisoners should never have a right to vote. They forfeited their right when they broke the laws of our country. So those who end up in our prisons should never have the right like common citizens. Never.
Robert Agius
Jul 2nd 2010, 13:16
Just because they broke A law it does not follow that they should not have a say in how and who is to run the country. Perhaps they are there cause they believe that certain laws should be changed in the 1st place.
M.Cachia
Jul 2nd 2010, 14:22
I see Mr. Agius, so you think that a serial rapist or Murderer should be given the same right as a law abiding citizen. What's the point of prison then?
Robert Agius
Jul 2nd 2010, 18:39
@ M Cachia
Are you suggesting that ALL prisoners are rapists or serial murderers. They call that stereotypes, and they can be very shallow.
Karl Consiglio
Jul 2nd 2010, 11:27
Only the Maltese prisoners though, and to do so I hope they are updated with what goes on in the daily political sphere outside their walls.
Ramon Casha
Jul 2nd 2010, 10:50
I wonder if candidates will start going door to door there too, trading favours for votes.