Maltese citizens living in other EU member states should not lose their right to vote in national elections, according to the Euro-pean Commission.
Malta has been identified by Brussels as one of five member states applying laws that lead to the loss of voting rights for its citizens simply because they are exercising their right to free movement in the EU.
Though acknowledging that this issue is one of national competence, the Commission said it was not fair that these citizens should lose their right to participate in the democratic process of their own country simply because they are living in another EU member state.
Issuing new guidelines yesterday, the Commission said it wanted Malta to show more flexibility on this issue.
It has invited Malta to enable nationals abroad to retain their right to vote if they demonstrate a continuing interest in the political life of their country, including by applying to remain on the electoral register. Voting could be done electronically.
Under Malta’s electoral laws, its citizens are struck off the electoral register if they have not resided in Malta for at least six months in the 18 months immediately preceding national elections.
This means that Maltese citizens living abroad for more than a year automatically lose their right to vote. For example, a Maltese citizen working as a translator in Brussels is not eligible to vote in Maltese elections. Although calls have over the years been made to change the laws, political parties have become less strict in their observance of these rules, even because proving that a Maltese citizen has not spent six months on the island has become much more difficult since Malta joined the EU and passport control has been lifted.
Apart from Malta, Ireland, the UK, Denmark and Cyprus also apply similar restrictive rules on who should vote in their national elections.
“Depriving citizens of their right to vote once they move to another EU country is effectively tantamount to punishing citizens for having exercised their right to free movement. Such practices risk making them second-class citizens,” EU Commissioner Viviane Reding complained yesterday in a press conference in Brussels.
“We are now calling upon member states to show greater flexibility by issuing proportionate guidance to the five member states concerned so that citizens can get back on the electoral roll of their country.
“I hope member states will be ready to address these very concrete concerns, because the loss of voting rights is a big deal for the individuals concerned,” she insisted.