AD wants voting rights for Maltese living abroad
Video: Paul Spiteri Lucas
Maltese citizens living abroad should be allowed to vote in the coming elections, Alternattiva Demokratika said.
Addressing a news conference this morning, chairman Michael Briguglio said these people should be allowed to vote in their country of residence.
“This will make things easier for these voters and Malta will avoid the unnecessary cost and controversies regarding flights during the elections.”
EU and international affairs spokesman Arnold Cassola said Labour should stop striking off the register names of Maltese nationals living abroad.
He accused the PL of going against the March 2003 Constitutional court ruling that stated “residence does not necessarily mean physical presence in Malta, but habitual presence”.
He said that 10 years ago, PL leader Joseph Muscat was an active protagonist of the PL that tried to deprive him of his right to vote after he had been voted the only non-EU citizen to ever become secretary general of a European political party in Brussels.
Popular Stories
Old buses, drivers to return
Former Judge Ray Pace found dead
Updated: Minister apologises for...
Three new Nationalist MPs elected –...
Where’s Everybody staff is given notice
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Update 4 - Eddie Fenech Adami stable...
Revealed...the face of a Maltese woman...
Update 3 - Woman trapped as car crashes...
In Discussion
Old buses, drivers to return
Updated: Minister apologises for...
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Enemalta seeking minimum five year gas...
Protected birds shot and trapped as...
Mario de Marco, Zammit Dimech concede,...
PN postpones salaries as financial...
Updated - PM's offer to Opposition MPs...
No appeals board for first part of power...
115 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Charles Muscat
Nov 10th 2012, 00:48
You might learn something if Maltese living abroad are allowed to vote.
paul camilleri
Nov 9th 2012, 11:19
why should Maltese that left our country to live in another be allowed to dictate what happens here? i usued to live in england and live here now i dont vote in english elections so why should maltese living in say austrailia have a maltese vote? this is such a stupid remark alla hares jigri dan
Charles Muscat
Nov 10th 2012, 00:35
And what if my intentions are that I will return back? And what if you decide to leave the country after you vote? You will be considered as a traitor.
Raymond Sammut
Nov 16th 2012, 04:06
They would not "dictate what happens here". They would simply cast their vote. Casting a vote is not dictating. It is, in fact, exactly the opposite.
Charles Attard
Nov 9th 2012, 08:00
U ghaliex Le?? Meta ligijiet li johrog il Gvern Malti jaffettwaw lilna wkol!! One example is our right to remain Citizens of the Island were we where born. Many governments can come up with draconian decisions. Thisright could be taken out from under our feet ..unless any Party strongly commits to us that our citizenship will not be denied to us!!
Daniel Diacono
Nov 9th 2012, 02:45
qeghdin sew certu nies... qed nifhem sew jien ??? dawn jahsbu li hi xi holiday li jigu min barra min malta biex jivvutaw jamlu jumejn u jitilqu bla ma jhallsu centesmu taxxa f'dal pajjiz u nies bhal dawn kapaci jideterminaw liema gvern jkollna ahna ghall-hames snin. hallas it taxxa hawn u vvutaw imbghad jekk tridu
Charles Attard
Nov 9th 2012, 08:03
Sur Diacono..Meta ninzlu Malta u nqattaw tlett xhur u izjed, flus inhallu fil kaxxa ta Malta, u nhalsu l-Vat bhalkhom ..minnajr ma nkunu qlajna sold minn Malta...Voldieri ahna ma nkunux swejnikhom sitt habbiet!! U Ohra hi li ahna daqskhom Maltin xejn anqas!!!!
Victor Carmelo Sciberras
Nov 8th 2012, 23:21
I have lived in England since 1964 and am 68 years old. I would not want to vote in any Maltese elections because I do not think it is fair to resident Maltese who know more of what is going on politically in Malta than I do. I do take a lot interest of what is happening in Malta and I do hope people will vote for what is right for Malta and not just to put ANY party in power. Good Luck.
godwin glanville
Nov 8th 2012, 23:19
Jiena nixtieq li nivota f'Malta imma mhux sewwa li jiena noghqod barra min Malta ghal dawn l'ahar 45 sena u nigi Malta biex nivota. L'unica nies li ghadom ikollom idritt li jivotaw f'Malta huma dawk li joghqodu f'Malta u f'Ghawdex u ihalsu it-taxxi hemmek u jekk jiena ikolli dritt f''Malta nigi naghqa u inqum x'jaghmel il gvern li jihu il poter ghax jien qieghed barra u ma tafetuwanix.
Joe Grech
Nov 8th 2012, 21:31
What does Briguglio mean by this? I believe one has to be a resident here for a set period of time to be allowed to vote. That is just I believe! AD sometimes makes big mistakes and it seems this is one of them.
Joseph Borg
Nov 8th 2012, 21:16
I agree with AD. I am Maltese born of Maltese parents with Maltese passport living in UK but I have never been allowed to vote in Malta! I am 67!!!
Eddy Privitera
Nov 9th 2012, 09:19
Joseph Borg: If you have emigrated to the UK and are working there and paying your taxes there, then you should be voting in the UK not in Malta !
Charles Muscat
Nov 10th 2012, 00:39
Mr. Privitera, are you saying that those who work and do not pay tax shouldn't vote?
Saviour Cachia
Nov 8th 2012, 18:04
Ghandna tinbidel il-Kostituzzjoni, il-ligi elettorali, ir-registrazzjoni ta' dawk li jahdmu barra u jhallsu t-taxxa f'Malta u wara verament nghidu li possibilment ghandna mekkanizmu bl-inqas loopholes. Kif inhuma l-affarijiet illum jezisti rebus kbir, anki b'Maltin joqghodu f'lokalita' u jkollhom l-karta ta' l-identita' lokal iehor, sahansitra f'Ghawdex. Xejn sew, l-elezzjoni fazulla.
Mr C Galea
Nov 8th 2012, 18:03
Yes to this suggestion/idea and the sooner the better
GL Calleja
Nov 8th 2012, 17:37
If Maltese Citizens living abroad pay Maltese taxes, then they should be able to vote in Maltese elections, otherwise NOT. This should equally apply to all Maltese living abroad, whether it be the USA, Australia, Canada, the UK or any part of the EU countries. And please no more FREEBIE air fares to Maltese that live within the EU or away from Malta. The rules should apply fairly and equally.
Marie Roberts
Nov 8th 2012, 17:04
Anyone living abroad should not have the right to vote for a country in which they do not live. Why should they interfere in our lives when we do not interfere in theirs? I do not vote in the UK elections because I do not live there any more. I live here, and I vote here.
ALBERT FENECH
Nov 8th 2012, 15:52
After the shoddy and sham performance by AD Chairman Michael Briguglio on Xarabank in which he kow-towed and licked the boots of PM Dr Michael Gonzi, I do not feel that AD is in a position to demand anything and it is certainly a spent and never-has-been force. A vote for AD is a totally wasted vote.
ALBERT FENECH
Emanuel Curmi
Nov 8th 2012, 18:16
Dear Mr. Fenech. A vote for the AD is indeed a wasted one but not for the reasons you are giving but because of a biased and highly undemocratic electoral system that our major parties are determined not to change. If the AD is truly a spent and never-has-been force why not let the electorate decide their destiny rather than having a flawed constitution restricting that basic principle of democracy
Henry S Pace
Nov 8th 2012, 15:49
''' JIMMY ATANASIO
i agree.i for one would like to do my part in voting,after all i amy be a canadian citicin i consider myself maltese first and canadian second.i would like to have my vote back please'
Hands off Malta. You have the chance to vote in your country of adoption.
After all you pay your raxes in that country.
Raymond Sacco
Nov 8th 2012, 15:48
And how will a person who have been living abroad for many years know which party to vote for? How will this person know which party is the best for the country? It is common sense to say that such persons will vote according to hearsay since they have not been in Malta for such a long time!
Charles Attard
Nov 9th 2012, 08:09
This is a different era..we read all the Maltese papers off the net..we recieve and hear all your lamenting and praising..we have families in Malta who tell us what is going on..We see Maltese Television on line and we hear any Maltese Radio..and above all we hear Most of the Maltese Politicians what they say!! This is the Era of the Internet Face Book, etc etc!
Charles Muscat
Nov 10th 2012, 00:45
I emigrated to Sydney 30 years ago and I have a property in beautiful Malta which I often visit.
Ask me whom I should vote in Malta and I tell you. No worries about that mate.
rose dunphy
Nov 8th 2012, 15:16
When in 1964 the Maltese government took away my British Citizenship nobody gave me a choice. As a Maltese born living abroad why should I vote for the Government in Malta?
John Zammit
Nov 8th 2012, 15:06
I don't agree that Maltese persons that have settled abroad for good not just for periods of work be allowed to mingle in our affairs besides the Country that adopted them
G curmi
Nov 8th 2012, 14:33
Min ma jdahhalx idu fil-but u jhallas bhali u bhac-cittadini l-ohra, ma naqbilx li ghandu dritt jivvota.
Jivvota min qed ihallas l-kontribuzzjonijiet lill-pajjiz.
Min jghix barra u jhallas taxxi u kontijiet barra, allura sorry m'ghandux jaghti l-vot ha jintghazel Gvern f'isimna li nghixu hawn.
Oswald Tanti
Nov 8th 2012, 14:23
It is time that in Malta someone will heed Franklin D. Roosevelt's comment and apply it to our country
Thought of the Day for the 6th November, 2012
.
“Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”
-- Franklin D. Roosevelt
Saviour Cachia
Nov 8th 2012, 14:12
Uff meta se jghaddu dawn is-sitt xhur u ssir din l-imbierka elezzjoni. Jien naf li se nivvota Labour, imma xbajt, dak inhar tal-elezzjoni minn hu l-aqwa jhawwel...wara kollox hadd ma jista' jichad li d-dritt li partit li jkollu maggoranza ta' 10 voti (overall) jista' jiggverna, ghaliex ikun qed jigi osservat il-principju tal-maggoranza maqbul fil-Kostitutzzjoni tal-1987. Capisci!
Gervais M. Cishahayo
Nov 8th 2012, 13:40
Outdated legal loopholes should not be used to deny citizens their right to vote. Unless for ascertained medical or criminal reasons anyone identifying her/himself as a Maltese citizen and holding a Maltese ID Card or passport issued by the authorised Maltese authority should be able to vote. Any other subjective reason is tantamount to unacceptable disguised illegal political discrimination.
Martin Saliba
Nov 8th 2012, 15:54
What you are saying is that anyone who has a dual passport and resides and pays his taxxes abroad has the right to put in power a goverment not of your choice . Do you think that is right ?
JIMMY ATANASIO
Nov 8th 2012, 13:29
i agree.i for one would like to do my part in voting,after all i amy be a canadian citicin i consider myself maltese first and canadian second.i would like to have my vote back please
William Spencer
Nov 8th 2012, 15:23
But you left Malta because it could not provide you with the standard of life that you wanted for yourself and your Family. Canada provided you with those things, it gave you the standard of living you wanted, you took Canadian Citizenship, yet you say that you are Maltese first and Canadian second.....how ungrateful.
You now want the best of both Worlds !!
Martin Saliba
Nov 8th 2012, 15:55
Do you pay taxes in malta ???????????
W Cassar
Nov 8th 2012, 16:00
Are you going to live in Malta during the next 4 years? If not then why should your voting decision effect the people actually living in Malta.
Rachel Galea
Nov 8th 2012, 16:08
Personally I would rather have a British or any other ex-pat who lives here in Malta on a permanent basis being allowed to vote than having a Maltese who has not resided here for many years. In my opinion such a person should not be allowed to vote after have been resident overseas for say ten to fifteen years or more
Celine Abela
Nov 8th 2012, 13:04
You'll get a vote from me if this goes through!!
Philip Grech
Nov 8th 2012, 13:03
Allura ghax ma jivvutawx ukoll dawk li telqu minn Malta bil-fors, nghidu ahna ghax il-kappillan ghamlilhom salib ahmar hdejn isimhom. Dawn ma telqux biex jaqilghu aktar imma biex talinqas jghixu.
Edmund Mifsud
Nov 8th 2012, 12:43
Ma naqbel xejn mal-AD, min ikun jahdem barra ghal tul ta zmien, hemm raguni u jkun jista jivvota. Imma min ikun jghix barra permanenti anqas jekk ikollu aktar min indirizz wiehed fuqu hawn Malta, m'ghandu l-ebda dritt li jiddeciedi ghalija. Min jghix barra jivvota ghal min ikun imexxi dak il-pajjiz mhux ghall-pajjizna, hu kemm hu cittadin Malti m'ghandu l-ebda dritt li jiddeciedi ghalija.
Eddy Privitera
Nov 8th 2012, 12:40
Briguglio: Xi tridu tghidu biha " Maltese living abroad" ? Allura dawk li emigraw l-Awstralja, il-Kanada , l-Inghilterra etc.. u ilhom is-snin shah, tiprretendu li jkollhom id-dritt jivvutaw fl-elezzjoni ta' pajjizna, minkejja li la jkunu qed ihallsu l-income-tax, il-bolla etc.. ???
Charles Muscat
Nov 10th 2012, 00:54
Mr. Privitera, jien nghix L Awstralia u ghandi penzjoni ta Malta ghax kont nahdem qabel sifirt. Jien lest biex nivvota Malta u nivvota PN.
mario genovese
Nov 8th 2012, 12:39
What a lot of nonesence, people living and making a living abroad should never be eligible to contribute towards the republic's faith, it is just like saying I do not like beef and yet I shall serve it to my guests.
Paul Meilak
Nov 8th 2012, 12:33
I am 100% in favour that the Maltese working ( not necessarily living ) abroad should have the rights to vote BUT on the other hand one should also know that a considerable amount of AD supporters live/work abroad within the EU institutions.
Lucienne Dimech
Nov 8th 2012, 12:22
Why should so embody living abroad bother to vote in Malta just because he is Maltese? I rather think that a foreigner who lives in Malta should vote here. After all we all care about what goes on in the country where we reside not where we come from
Pippo de Marco
Nov 8th 2012, 12:17
The March 2003 Constitutional court ruling that stated “residence does not necessarily mean physical presence in Malta, but habitual presence”.
Charging different people different utility tariffs and bus fares breaches EU discrimation law, but it would also appear to defy this Constitutional Court ruling.
I thought we were a law-abiding democracy, but it seems that TWATM law applies.
Clemens Hasengschwandtner
Nov 8th 2012, 11:43
I am living in Malta for more than 15 years now and I still have the right to vote in Austria. I just go to the embassy, show my ID, get the papers, make my cross and my vote will be counted. Malta should be proud of all the young people living and working abroad - not punish and exclude them.
Charles Attard
Nov 9th 2012, 08:15
Ja Clemens ..ganz genau!! I am dumbfounded how our Brothers and sisters in Malta are turning against us as if we were LEPERS!!! I wonder how many of these firing shots at us think about their relatives abroad!! MOST Maltese you meet in Malta has a close relative overseas!!! AND IF WE WERE ALL BACK IN MALTA>>> Malta will sink..Imagine about two million of us at least coming back!!!
Eddy Privitera
Nov 9th 2012, 09:27
If you do not pay your taxes in Austria too, then why should you vote in Austria, when you are not contributing anything to your native country ?
Henry Micallef
Nov 8th 2012, 11:13
Xejn gdid mill- Labour Party.
Inti lest li tafda sahhtek ghand tabib illi kien iktar jaf kif jghaddi mill ezami milli jaf fuq is suggett li ser jigi ezaminat fuqu?
Daqs hekk iehor Joseph Muscat. Strategija wahda wara l-ohra biex jirbah l elezzjoni imma fuq is sugett ta kif ser jmexxi MA JAF XEJN.
Eddy Privitera
Nov 8th 2012, 12:44
Henry Micallef:Lawrence Gonzi ta prova wahda wara l-ohra, li lanqas kif imexxi grupp ta' 35 deputat ma kien kapaci jmexxi, ahseb u are pajjiz !
Henry Micallef
Nov 8th 2012, 16:29
Eddy - Bl-istess ragunament lanqas Alfred sant ma kien kapaci jmexxi ill-grupp tieghu ghax Mintoff ivvota kontrih u waqqa l-Gvern. U allura jekk ma kienx kapaci ghalfejn id-deputati laburisti regaw ivvutawlu biex jibqa kap tal PL?
Bl-istess ragunament lanqas Josepoh Muscat mhu kapaci jmexxi il-LP ghax Jason Micallef kien, ghadu u jibqa jghamel li jrid fil Partit.
Napprezza twegiba...
Eddy Privitera
Nov 9th 2012, 09:31
Henry MIcallef: Din li Jason Micallef jaghmel li jrid fil-partit bellghuhielek tan- Net T u In-Nazzjon ! Jekk hux kapaci jmexxi Dr. Muscat missek indunajt bir-riformi KBAR li gieb fil-PL. Waqt li Lawrence Gonzi KISSER il-PN !
Roberto Fenech
Nov 8th 2012, 11:08
Simple Mathematics - Most of the Maltese working abroad are knowledge workers. Most of knowledge workers support a PN Government. So although Joseph Muscat preaches that Labour will be a new government for ALL, in reality, he brings political issues before national ones. If he dares telling us good policies that he intends to implement, then he should have nothing to be scared of..
Jeffrey Mallia
Nov 8th 2012, 11:40
Veru kumment bla sens u banali.....So you are saying that PN supporters are more highly intelligent than PL supporters ?? I cant comprehend how people write these stupid comments !!
Mr l Azzopardi
Nov 8th 2012, 13:42
you are assuming way to much Roberto...people change. Like I changed after hearing the PN PL position on IVF
Prosit AD keep up the good work.
Roberto Fenech
Nov 8th 2012, 16:22
Dear Mr Azzopardi, I hope you are not like Mr Brimmer - the guy who on Xarabank told the Prime Minister that he trusted him when in fact he was part of the Malta Labour Party.
anthony sultana
Nov 8th 2012, 11:03
The green party stand for easy living,Prosit Prosit AD. Who needs hardtime? Support the AD to have easy cool life.Remember what happen under Alfred S.and what is happening know.All Maltese citizens have the right to vote, no questions about that.
Victor Calleja
Nov 8th 2012, 10:59
Kieku irridu xi gimgha biex noddu il voti.
Andre` Vella
Nov 8th 2012, 11:29
So we should take away the voting rights to make counting easier?
M Cachia
Nov 8th 2012, 13:31
No - This is done in most democratic countries. Expatriate votes happen a week before the general election and voting boxes will be ready to be opened at the counting halls by election day.
Kindly think before you speak
Victor Calleja
Nov 8th 2012, 10:55
I agree as long as they are paying their taxes to the Maltese government. But as long as our constitution remains as it is the PL is doing nothing out of the ordinary.
Min jaf ghax il PN ma jaghmilx listess? Tghid ghax jaqbillu?
Philip Jackson
Nov 8th 2012, 10:46
being a foreigner living in Malta for over ten years, paying taxes and national insurance it galls me that I have no say in who governs.
Mr Jimmie Rowe
Nov 8th 2012, 11:03
True same here, but then again if you have lived in malta long enough and obtained a Maltese passport then its no problem, but if you are British, in my case i am more concerned about my country the UK as to me Malta is secondary and non important to many expats, cause most are here for health reason and because its cheaper then Britain in SOME aspects except for the 2 tier billings W&E.
Peter Murray
Nov 8th 2012, 11:03
But if you were Maltese living in UK and you name appears on the UK electoral register you would be allowed in vote in ALL elections -including the Parliamentary(General) Election.Why is this privilege not reciprocated here in Malta to UK citizens under the exact same circumstances ?
Philip Grech
Nov 8th 2012, 12:49
As Mr. Rowe said, none of you is here to do us a favour. And none of you would be here if there was nothing different from your country. When in China do as the Chinese do.
Joseph Brincat
Nov 8th 2012, 10:41
Every Government that is elected he govern what the TAX he collect SO
Every Maltese citizens living in Malta should be entitled to vote
Every Maltese citizens living abroad and PAY tax in malta will be entitled to vote ( the rest NO )
Every foreigner who his residente is in malta and pay tax in malta will be entitled to vote
B. Borg
Nov 8th 2012, 10:37
Please correct me if am wrong, if Arnold Cassola has a Maltese and Italian citizenships, how can he claim that 10 years ago he was the only non-EU citizen to ever become secretary general of a European political party in Brussels?
Andre` Vella
Nov 8th 2012, 11:28
Because in 2003 Malta was not in the European Union - and PL wanted to take away his vote in the EU referendum to try and win. Thank God they lost!
B. Borg
Nov 8th 2012, 12:34
Yes Mr Vella, I know but as an Italian citizenship holder, Prof Cassola was an EU citizen in 2003, so why that statement?
Louis Saliba
Nov 9th 2012, 19:32
@ Andre' Vella
I believe that the objection to Arnold Cassola's voting was that he did not fulfil the residence requirement stipulated in Article 57 of the Constitution of Malta, and that (according to press reports at the time) this could not be proved because he unfortunately lost his passport.
Jurgen Farrugia
Nov 8th 2012, 10:36
I agree with AD that Maltese living abroad shall vote in the Country they are living in and like in the United statesand Australia (among others) they should be sent the post by vote. Also i agree that voting hours should be extended on a two or three day
Henry S Pace
Nov 8th 2012, 10:33
' AD wants voting rights for Maltese living abroad '
Does AD expect that migrants who left Malta to find pastures new will be given the right to vote in Malta?
These people vote in their respective countries of domicile.
Andre` Vella
Nov 8th 2012, 11:27
That is not what AD are saying
Wilfred Camilleri
Nov 8th 2012, 12:30
The US allows citizens to vote even if they live and pay taxes in other countries on a permanent basis!1
Mr l Azzopardi
Nov 8th 2012, 13:44
henry mhux ahjar tifhem x'qed jingħad qabel tikteb?
Peter Murray
Nov 8th 2012, 10:25
everyone is automatically assuming that Maltese living abroad are doing so on a permanent basis and that they have lived abroad for many previous years.As with most civilised countries,when their citizens reside abroad, their voting rights remain- but only for a given timeframe(which differs from country to counrtry) or until they renounce their citizenship- this should apply to Maltese subjects
John Caligari
Nov 8th 2012, 10:24
Argumenti vojta, ghalhekkl-Alternattiva qatt makisbet voti. Dejjem b'xi cuccata.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Nov 8th 2012, 13:04
Nahseb li inti qed tghid ic-cuccati ghax ma spjegajtx il-ghaliex ghandhom argument vojt.
Charles Muscat
Nov 10th 2012, 01:00
Are you Maltese? Caligari I think not.
Joseph E Briffa
Nov 8th 2012, 10:13
AD's proposal makes a lot of sense and should be taken up. A Maltese citizen residing in another EU state should not be deprived of his/her right to vote in Maltese elections. He/she has family and/or contacts in Malta and has a right to have a say in the outcome of Maltese elections, whether he lives in Mellieha or Milan. Moreover this has been recognized by the constitutional court.
jesmond zammit
Nov 8th 2012, 10:12
lanqas kontrol serju x jigri f pajjizna waqt il votazzjoni ahseb u ara jekk jivvutaw barra ....kieku l gvern irriveda l id cards forsi kien ikolli farka fiducja. briguljo qed jiehu l linja li l pn jiddejjaq jiehu ..u min irid jifhem ha jifhem.
Philip Grech
Nov 8th 2012, 12:53
hallih ha jiehu l-linja li jrid. Issa jinduna min huma l-irgiel meta forsi jigu jarrestwh jum qabel l-elezzjoni.
H. Meilak
Nov 8th 2012, 10:10
@J. Farrugia & Carmel Zammit
One family member and a couple of friends work in Luxembourg and Belgium. They have Maltese passports and visit Malta frequently. According to you they should not vote in Malta and according to common sense they are not allowed to vote in Luxembourg and Belgium because they are not Luxembourgers or Belgian. So, like prisoners, they are not allowed to vote anywhere.
Carmel Zammit
Nov 8th 2012, 10:58
I myself too have relatives living in other European countries but tell me does that change the logic? So by your reasoning people who are not allowed to cast their vote some place else should be allowed to come cast their vote here and leave!!! what kind of logic is this?
Emanuel Curmi
Nov 8th 2012, 12:04
Dear Mr. Carmel Zammit, being a self appointed spokesman for your relatives abroad makes your stand even more astonishing. Maybe you should tell us what your own relatives think about your rigid stand to exempt them from voting in their country of birth, provided of course that their absence on the island is not of a permanent basis but a temporary one.
H. Meilak
Nov 8th 2012, 12:41
Carmel, according to your logic 2 German footballers playing for Real Madrid or a Maltese footballer playing for Latina in Italy (there is one), have no right to vote in Germany or Malta respectively?
V. Cauchi
Nov 8th 2012, 10:09
For anyone watching the liberal way of voting procedures in the US, we should be ashamed of the local system based on utter fear of the other party's actions. It makes voting a paraphobic affair after an unwarranted stunt of lying and deceit in an electoral campaign unworthy of a civilized "democratic" nation. We have to be more liberal and eradicate the unfounded fears affecting our Constitution.
Joseph Brincat
Nov 8th 2012, 10:04
Alternattiva Demokratika ???
Way should Maltese citizens living abroad and do not pay
taxes in MALTA should have the right to vote in MALTA ????
Andre` Vella
Nov 8th 2012, 10:18
They have their residence in Malta:
DEFINIZZJONI KOSTITUZJONALI TA' RESIDENZA
Il-kelma "residenza" ma tfissirx presenza fizika fil-pajjiz, izda tinkludi fiha u tippermetti allontananzi perjodici mill-istess pajjiz. Persuna li tkun temporanjament assenti minn Malta minhabba xoghol, studju, mard, jew missjoni, m'ghandhiex u ma tistax titqies li m'ghadhiex residenti f'Malta.
joseph borg st john
Nov 8th 2012, 10:39
simple because they are Maltese citizens like you said .
Joseph Brincat
Nov 8th 2012, 10:50
Andre` Vella & joseph borg st john
Every Government that is elected he govern what the TAX he collect SO
if they do not pay tax in MALTA NO !!!!
joseph borg st john
Nov 8th 2012, 11:30
Joseseph Brincat you are only being arrogant and repeating what your wonder boy said by the same reasoning there are lot of people living in Malta that don t pay tax and vote or maybe you want to take their vote away as well .
Andre` Vella
Nov 8th 2012, 14:20
Who told you the yaren't paying taxes in Malta? If they have a residence in malt then they indeed ARE paying taxes!
Louis Saliba
Nov 8th 2012, 18:33
@ Andre' Vella
Article 124 of the Constitution of Malta does not include residence among its definition of terms. Article 57, which contains the residence proviso, makes it perfectly clear in both Maltese and English versions that the requirement is physical residence for a period of 6 months during the previous 18. The exception regarding public service employees further confirms this.
Luke Lanzon
Nov 8th 2012, 10:03
For those who say that those living abroad should not have the option to vote, don't you think that these people have families here in Malta or that maybe they're just working for maybe a year or two away from our island and will return back??
Emanuel Curmi
Nov 8th 2012, 09:56
@Dear Mr Zammit & Mr. Farrugia. Using your same reasoning one ought to give foreigners, paying taxes locally, the right to vote. Why we have to view Maltese, living abroad, with such suspicion is beyond my comprehension but this inherent fear of 'foreign' interference borders on the paranoia. We may have become members of the EU but still bear the mentality of an island folk.
Mr Tony Gatt
Nov 8th 2012, 10:21
As a matter of fact when I lived in Ireland some years ago and paid taxes there I was not allowed to vote in major elections- just council ones. I thought this was wrong.
As the Americans said to Britain "No taxation without representation." People should only be allowed to vote in the country in which they pay their taxes.
Carmel Zammit
Nov 8th 2012, 10:35
I am afraid you got it all wrong Mr. Curmi. There is absoloutely no paranoia here. The choice of political leaders should intrinsically reflect our exclusive preferences. We need no one to decide our things for us. Our interests here are only ours and nobody else's.
Carmel Zammit
Nov 8th 2012, 10:52
I am afraid you got it all wrong Mr. Curmi. There is absoloutely no paranoia here. The choice of political leaders should intrinsically reflect our exclusive preferences. We need no one to decide our things for us. Our interests here are only ours and nobody else's.
Emanuel Curmi
Nov 8th 2012, 11:54
Dear Mr Zammit, I simply mentioned this as a 'what's good for the goose...' scenario. Your suggestion of excluding Maltese, temporary living abroad, on some pretext of where taxes are being paid, borders on a infringement of their human rights and out of sync with the EU norm. Mr. Tony Gatt did make a very valid point and I have no doubt that Europe will be moving in that direction before long
G curmi
Nov 8th 2012, 14:39
Between Foreigners and Maltese Citizens there is a difference Mr Curmi even though they both pay taxes to the Malteses Government.
Emanuel Curmi
Nov 8th 2012, 18:04
It seems one will always find the proverbial difference whether it is between Maltese and Foreigners and Maltese ta Malta u ta Barra. Fact is, the present system is discriminating and needs to be changed to reflect the modern world. We want to become full blown Europeans so we had to do away with the mentality of being treated as an exception.
Peter Murray
Nov 8th 2012, 09:40
This antiquated /archaeic system in only being allowed to vote in person in Malta should have long ago been radically overhauled and amended accordingly.Nowadays we have -and have possessed such for many years -many other secure voting options/alternatives to adopt and cultivate in which we may cast our vote -such as via online,postal,proxy,in our embassy's/consulates abroad - to name but a few
Charles Muscat
Nov 10th 2012, 01:03
Well said.
Anthony Arpa
Nov 8th 2012, 09:40
Forsi ghall inqas lil dawk li zammew il passaport Malti ok imma ohrajn li ghazlu cittadinza u passaort ta pajjiez iehor le ... Qatt mandhom jinataw ic cans li jivvutaw ... min jejx hawn jaf u ihoss il hajja Maltija ..
Andre` Vella
Nov 8th 2012, 10:20
Those are not the issue
J Farrugia
Nov 8th 2012, 09:38
No sorry why should a Maltese living abroad decide on things going on in Malta. You left the country simple as that. Let us decide what's right for the people living working and paying tax in the country.
Peter Murray
Nov 8th 2012, 10:19
You are assuming in your claim that Maltese living abroad are doing so on a permanent basis and not on a tempoaray or transient basis.
Andre` Vella
Nov 8th 2012, 10:20
They did not leave for good, they are temporarily out. Say for work or studies or even to get specialised care. They are stillMaltese citizens and have their residence listed in Malta so they pay Maltese taxes.
Carmel Zammit
Nov 8th 2012, 09:38
Why should anyone living abroad interfere with my right to choose my political leaders or to actively influence the same choice when he or she is not living in Malta? Is citizenship alone a qualifier for anyone to vote in our general elections?
Charles DeMicoli
Nov 8th 2012, 09:59
To answer your last question, as it pertains to other nations, Yes.
Andre` Vella
Nov 8th 2012, 10:19
if your place of residence, for 6 months, has been in Malta for the last 18 months than yes you have the right to vote.
Andreas Reiff
Nov 8th 2012, 10:46
Me. DeMicoli,
this is not the case. Germans not residing in Germany lose their right to vote in German elections after 15 years of residing abroad. And rightly so. After all, the main task of a government is to decide what to do with the taxes collected. So why should a government be elected by people who do not pay taxes in that respective country?
joseph borg st john
Nov 8th 2012, 10:51
Carmel Zammit no one is interfering in your rights its the opposite you are interfering in theirs .If they are Maltese citizens they have every right to vote for the party of their choice don t be arrogant too soon .
Carmel Zammit
Nov 8th 2012, 11:15
@ joseph Borg St. John
You call me arrogant simply for presenting my views? Is this how people like you think they can intimidate others? Do you ever look in a mirror?
joseph borg st john
Nov 8th 2012, 11:42
Carmel Zammit I called you arrogant because you are trying to force your views on someone else .As for a mirror i hope yours is not hanging too high .
Please choose the reason of your report below: