Opposition spokesman for justice Beppe Fenech Adami yesterday warned the government to keep its hands off the Electoral Commission after alleging some 20 seasoned workers at the commission’s office had been substituted by employees with Labour leanings.
Speaking during the debate in the second reading of the Constitution of Malta and Various Electoral Laws (Amendment) Bill, Dr Fenech Adami said the Opposition has protested against the choice of Joseph Church as chief electoral commissioner.
The government, he said, should not dare to use the Electoral Commission for political ends. This was something of the past.
Noting that past electoral commissions sought to find loopholes in the Constitution, Dr Fenech Adami said its powers were enormous and that, if misused, it could have serious consequences.
It would be irresponsible to start a process that would deny the right to vote for Maltese citizens still on the electoral register.
Dr Fenech Adami appealed to Mr Church not to let anyone override him, thereby undermining democracy.
The first year of a Labour government, he said, had been characterised by crucial appointments being given to people close to the party. There had been a complete takeover in the police and armed forces.
A former legal procurator who worked for the PL had been appointed commissioner of police and a person close to the Prime Minister as commander of the AFM.
Dr Fenech Adami said that, in Parliament, the PN was granted two seats fewer than it should have been, as a result of two mistakes that were committed during the counting of votes in the last general election.
It had instituted legal proceedings, which were in their 18th sitting, to obtain the party’s entitlement and so that the composition of Parliament would reflect the votes cast.
He appealed to the government not to place obstacles in court but to join the Opposition and rectify the matter. He hoped that his appeal would not fall on deaf ears, especially when everyone acknowledged that such mistakes were committed.
Earlier, Dr Fenech Adami said the Opposition was in agreement with a number of the amendments. However, it did not agree that people in retirement homes and hospitals should vote on a Thursday. (See story below.) Voting should remain as is on Friday.
On hospital lists, Dr Fenech Adami said there was no justification for the proposed changes and parties had a right to have these lists in advance to monitor mobility in hospitals. This change could lead to abuse.
The Bill was approved with the Opposition voting against.
Labour MPs Chris Fearne and Michael Falzon also contributed, with Parliamentary Secretary Owen Bonnici winding up.