Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil yesterday described the Local Councils (Amendment) Bill as “anti-democratic” and “anti-liberal”.
He said the government should be ashamed of having moved it in Parliament, because it showed how insensitive it was to the basic principle of democracy which united society.
Speaking during the debate in second reading of the Bill, Dr Busuttil emphasised that it would postpone the scheduled 2017 local council elections to 2019. The proposal was that these local council elections would be held throughout the country every five years, simultaneously with the European Parliament elections.
This move would weaken democracy and was a step backward in the democratic process, Dr Busuttil insisted. Half of the electorate, including 16-year olds voting for the first time, would be denied this right in 2017.
The Opposition believed that the government wanted to centralise power instead of sharing it with local councils and with the electorate under the principle of subsidiarity.
The government did not believe in local government. Its plan was to reduce the budget for local councils while introducing financial schemes which it could control.
The Opposition believes the government wants to centralise power instead of sharing it with local councils and with the electorate
Such funds should be shared under an agreed fair formula, he said, pointing out that the last scheme had created chaos among local councils.
He called on the government to decentralise power, with discretion vested in local councils to decide on how to spend public funds.
Referring to 10 local councils elections held in April, Dr Busuttil said that contrary to the Prime Minister’s claim that the country was suffering from election fatigue, 68 per cent of the electorate in half the country voted.
He laid out the Opposition’s beliefs on local councils, saying that while in government, the PN had sought consensus with the then Labour Opposition to amend the law so that local council elections would be held every four years instead of three. A period of five years was too long.
The government did not try to reach agreement with the Opposition and was imposing this Bill without any electoral mandate.
He also accused the government of insulting the electorate, which, he said, should be given more power.
Dr Busuttil also accused the government of controlling independent institutions such as Mepa. The Opposition wanted institutions to be independent of the government and to defend the people.
Local councils should be given more autonomy and increased funds. The Opposition had already proposed that 10 per cent of revenue from vehicle licences should be given to local councils according to the number of cars in the locality.