The Electoral Commission should be overhauled before being put in charge of overseeing party funding in terms of the proposed new law, former minister Michael Falzon said this evening.

Addressing a discussion on the proposed law, Mr Falzon questioned whether the commission could be trusted with monitoring party funding. If the commission was to be trusted with overseeing the funding practices, it should be appointed by parliament, he argued

The Chief Electoral Commissioner is currently nominated by the prime minister after consultation with the opposition leader.

Last February the Nationalist Party claimed the government had not taken its concerns on board when it chose to appoint former Secretary to the President Joseph Church to the important position.

Law Reform Commissioner Franco Debono, also present for the debate, insisted the commission enjoyed the support of the majority of the country.

"We trust the commission with administering our elections, I can't see any structure having more trust than that," he said, adding that he felt an existing entity should be appointed to watch over financing.

Despite this, Dr Debono said the commission was not immune to controversy, referring to the allegations of gerrymandering during the 1981 General Election.

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said the government had already discussed a reform of several facets of the commission. This, he said, would likely be implemented in the coming years.

While welcoming the discussion, organized by Fondazzjoni Ideat, the minister said the bill was still the first stage in an ongoing fight against corruption.

Asked about the Council of Europe’s anti corruption watchdog's view on the bill, Dr Debono insisted the white paper had been praised by the organisation.  "If it was up to GRECO the bill would have already brought into force," he said.