The decision to have the Electoral Commission serve as party financing watchdog could be challenged in court, the Opposition warned yesterday.
This was declared by Opposition MP Chris Said during a news conference in which the Nationalist Party gave its reaction to the Party Financing Bill that was approved through committee stage in Parliament on Wednesday evening. The new law is set to come into force next year.
Dr Said reiterated concerns expressed earlier by the PN that the commission was not the “the most independent body” to serve as a regulator. “The very fact that the government of the day nominates the majority of the commission members raises some doubts that sensitive financial information might be leaked,” he said.
He noted that the government had already rejected an Opposition proposal to appoint a regulator who would enjoy security of tenure on the same lines of the Ombudsman and the Auditor General.
Asked by this newspaper if the PN would consider challenging this provision of the proposed law in court, Dr Said replied that “all options would be considered”.
He pointed out that the party was also unhappy that any income from properties rented by a political party at very low rates from the government would not have to be included in the party accounts.
All options would be considered
“This does not create a level playing field and so we are also looking closely at this aspect”, he said.
Earlier, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici hailed the Bill, saying it was long overdue. He noted that successive PN administrations had postponed its introduction to the point that Malta was being chided by the EU Council watchdog against corruption (Greco).
Dr Bonnici said that for the first time ever political parties would be under scrutiny to ensure they would not end up “in the pocket of wealthy businessmen”.
Though anonymous donations would still be allowed, Dr Bonnici pointed out these would be limited to €50 and could only be made during party activities such as telethons. Otherwise, the party would still have to keep a record of the donation.
Donations above €7,000 have to be made public in the party’s annual financial statements.
The Bill caps donations from the same source at €25,000 a year and each election candidate would be allowed to spend a maximum €20,000 on each district contested. False declarations could lead to the unseating of an MP.
A proposal by the PN to limit party spending in election campaigns to €2 million, was rejected. Dr Bonnici insisted that parties should not be “penalised” for raising funds beyond a certain level.