A Nationalist EP candidate has disclosed that he exceeded the legal spending limit during the campaign by over €30,000, but several other candidates are still refusing to disclose their expenditure.
Edward Demicoli provided The Sunday Times with a detailed account of campaign costs totalling €52,000, even though he said his campaign was "by far" less costly than that of certain others. The amount excludes any expenditure by the party on his behalf.
Mr Demicoli paid some €7,500 from his pocket, while the rest came from individuals who organised events on his behalf or paid some of his promotional costs.
The electoral law states that each candidate may not spend more than €18,635 (Lm8,000) on the campaign, including personal expenditure and that by third parties, whether financial or in kind.
Candidates have up to July 17 to declare their expenditure to the Electoral Commission and an oath must be taken with the declaration. If a candidate admits to having exceeded that limit, he will not be allowed to serve if elected. If not elected, the candidate is subject to a fine.
Mr Demicoli did not take out full page adverts in newspapers, as certain other candidates did for several weeks, and the leaflet he distributed to households was modest compared with the booklets sent out by some. The only free merchandise he distributed were 1,800 mugs, while others distributed a variety of promotional items from websites.
When Mr Demicoli was asked why he was taking such a stand, he quoted the murdered Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya who is renowned for her fearless exposure of corruption.
"The real cost of political cynicism is rejection by the younger generation. Truth-based politics would help mitigate the cynicism people are feeling towards politics in general," Mr Demicoli said.
While saying the electoral law "is being broken by almost everyone", he insists he refuses to take a false oath.
"I regret my expenses exceed the legal threshold and are in violation of the electoral polling ordinance. However, I was not motivated by a desire to engage in what the law calls a 'corrupt practice', but by a desire to have a normal campaign," Mr Demicoli said, adding that he was prepared to defend himself before the appropriate court if called to do so.
Candidates can choose to take the oath privately with a notary of their choice.
Since no representative from the Electoral Commission will be present to verify the oath-taking, The Sunday Times asked candidates from the two main political parties to grant access to reporters.
Edward Demicoli agreed, as did PN candidates Alan Deidun, and Rudolph Cini. PL candidates Christian Zammit, Maria Camilleri, Claudette Abela Baldacchino and Steve Borg also had no objection.
However, none of the five elected MEPs has committed to allowing any reporting of their oath.
In the last general election, the Labour Party let candidates take the oath privately. PN candidates met at a party club behind closed doors.
The Prime Minister said last week he would be "extremely worried and disappointed" if anyone took false oath.
PN candidate Alan Deidun, whose published expenditure is within the legal limit, said: "Who will actually scrutinise in detail the financial state-ments submitted, and what action will be taken against defaulters?"
PL and PN candidates who did not disclose expenses
Simon Busuttil (PN - MEP)
David Casa (PN - MEP)
Louis Grech (PL - MEP)
John Attard Montalto (PL - MEP)
Edward Scicluna (PL - MEP)
Joseph Cuschieri (PL)
Sharon Ellul Bonici (PL)
Marlene Mizzi (PL)
Roberta Metsola Tedesco Triccas (PN)
Glenn Bedingfield (PL)
Kirill Micallef Stafrace (PL)
Alex Perici Calascione (PN) Frank Portelli (PN)
Marthese Portelli (PN)
Vince Farrugia (PN)