Kurt Sansone
New law by next election
Gonzi stands by Fenech’s denial
A law to regulate political party financing will be in place before the next general election, according to the Prime Minister.
Lawrence Gonzi’s commitment comes in the wake of allegations that Finance Minister Tonio Fenech received donations from construction company Montebello Brothers to finance his political campaign.
Mr Fenech has denied the allegations. Political party financing was one of the issues that was being discussed by a parliamentary select committee, which stopped functioning after the Labour Party withdrew its participation earlier this year.
“The Prime Minister is committed to enact the relevant legislation prior to the next general election,” a spokesman said, when asked whether Dr Gonzi felt it was time to have a law regulating political party and candidate financing irrespective of the opposition’s decision to withdraw from the select committee.
The issue of political donations came to the fore after MaltaToday quoted a former aide to the minister who alleged Montebello Brothers donated money towards Mr Fenech’s personal campaign.
Mr Fenech categorically denied he “ever received any money from Montebello Brothers” when asked whether they had directly or indirectly donated any money to his political campaign.
Mr Fenech would not say whether he was ready to make public any donations he may have received – directly or indirectly – from individuals or companies for his political campaign.
He said he “fully supports his party’s and the government’s policy towards further transparency in political campaigning and party financing”.
When asked whether he would be asking Mr Fenech for an explanation, Dr Gonzi stood by the minister’s denial. “Minister Tonio Fenech denied any wrongdoing,” the Prime Minister said.
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Carmel Cilia
Nov 9th 2010, 09:37
Isn't it a bit too late Mr. prime minister. Could it be you are seeing a possible electoral defeat next election and therefore you want to make sure the party in the next government would be denied the financial advantage your party has had all along. You see these last years we have lost complete faith in the bonafide of your party in government. There have been too many non transparent issues in these last five years for us not to try and read in between the lines and that's the politicians fault.
The Maltese people are fast loosing faith in politicians and they are really taking them literally when they hear them preach the well renowned phrase " li naghmlu ghalina u ghal uliedna'
People out in the streets have ended up like the biblical 'Lazzarus" jittalbu il-loqom qabel kull elezzjoni. Meta se jghid issa daqshekk sieghti waslet .
micallef a.
Nov 9th 2010, 08:30
The people have a right to know the names of the companies who financed the
nationalist party for the last 25 years. Than we shall be in a position to check
the value of government contracts awarded to these companies during this
period and we will conclude ourselves about the corruption issue.
Marco Cremona
Nov 8th 2010, 15:44
Kodos must go to AD who have been campaigning for this legislation for donkeys' years.
Stephen Farrugia
Nov 8th 2010, 11:23
No election can be recognized unless the last MEP election is sorted out. No government can be legitimate or even think of governing this country unless the law is respected. This country cannot have anyone believe, that the laws of election spending don't exist. The law is clear and has to be respected.
What is the point of having new laws, when nobody enforces our present law on election spending and remove Malta's MEP's, when they are not even entitled to hold their post.
Ignoring this issue is another mistake, together with illegal immigration and parliament being built in a square. The last MEP election was totally illegal and nobody can govern legally, when electoral laws are disregarded.
This situation will not be swept under a carpet because we are not all sheep. We are here and arguing in a strong political manner.
Stephen Farrugia ( Right-wing Social Democrats)