Opposition leader Simon Busuttil today made a last-ditch appeal to the government to withdraw the Bill amending the Local Councils’ Act.

Speaking during the Committee of the Consideration of Bills, Dr Busuttil said the Bill was a step backwards for democracy as it would be repealing the 2017 council elections.

“We cannot allow this to continue as if nothing is happening… No government that wants to call itself democratic can think of doing so,” Dr Busuttil said.

He said the government had already tried to cancel this year’s local elections and it was only due to the Opposition and the media that good sense prevailed.

The government, Dr Busuttil said, could not give the vote to 16-year-olds and then take away the election.

“There is lack of consensus on the matter and an ugly precedent is being created,” he said.

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said the main aim of the amendment was to extend the term of local councils from four to five years.

In its consultations, the government saw that there was a general agreement on this overall.

He said that for this to be done one could either hold the 2017 elections with some councils holding a three-year term or else not hold the elections which would mean that councils which were meant to go to the polls would see a one-time extension to 2019.

The government preferred the latter option.

Former Local Government Minister Chris Said that when changes had been needed during his term he always sought total consensus before presenting any amendments. He had withdrawn any amendments which were not backed by the Opposition, as was the custom with changes to electoral laws.