Nationalist MP Clyde Puli accused the government of being ready to invest in an unneeded power station but of not being prepared to invest in the political parties.
Speaking on the Financing of the Political Parties Bill on Tuesday, Mr Puli said that even though this was self-criticism, the Bill was long overdue.
People with money were interested in politics because they foresaw revenue for their businesses. When in opposition, the Labour Party used to call such people “fat cats”. However, once in government the PL changed its attitude.
Mr Puli said the reason behind such a strong Labour electoral campaign in the 2013 general election was the money flowing to the PL from those “fat cats”. Tangentopoli did not occur too far away from home, and there were lessons to be learnt, he warned.
It was a pity that the government was not supportive of State aid for political parties. Only six countries did not hand out this kind of financial support to their political parties.
Having such a system would curb any possibility of individuals influencing politics. The Bill was a step in the right direction but could be improved.
Once the Bill became law, the Opposition would immediately be disadvantaged because of the 28 properties the PL had amassed, including the Australia Hall
Once the Bill became law, the Opposition would immediately be disadvantaged because of the 28 properties the PL had amassed, including the Australia Hall, which was worth around €10 million. Many of these properties were privately owned and there were families who wished they could turn back time on some of these leases.
Referring to the PL club in Qormi, which was previously a cinema, Mr Puli said the property had been given on lease for a period of two years renewable with the consent of both lessor and lessee. Obviously this never occurred, and 60 years later the PL was still using this huge house as its club.
Mr Puli also condemned the fact that the government had attacked Jason Azzopardi for exercising his profession in appearing for the family that had instituted court proceedings to be given back the property in Qormi.
On a point of Order, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said that the Prime Minister had given his word that fair rent for that property would be given to the heirs. Even though some might consider that “fair rent” was indeed “unfair”, what the PL was offering was in line with the law.
Continuing, Mr Puli said that an annual rent of €198 was indeed unfair.
Similarly, referring to the Siġġiewi PL club, Mr Puli warned that the lease would expire within a couple of months. He asked whether the government intended vacating this property or whether it intended to dig its heels in.
Earlier, Kristy Debono (PN) said the PL could not be taken seriously on party financing.
Did the party believe that it was right to have 22 public and six private properties to use as political clubs?
If the PL truly believed it had departed from its dark past, Dr Muscat and the government should return the properties to the people.
The PN, she said, believed that a party financing Bill should place political parties on a level playing field.
Opposition MP Frederick Azzopardi said the Bill was discriminatory since it did not provide for state-funding of political parties. He suggested it should be implemented only after the PL returned the properties it had seized along the years to their rightful owners.