AD asks Electoral Commission to investigate PM, PL ‘breach of party financing law’
Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green Party yesterday asked the Electoral Commission to investigate an alleged breach of the party financing law by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and the Labour Party.
On 18 February, 2017, the AD said, the PL Parliamentary Group made use of Girgenti Palace, which is public property, for a PL Parliamentary Group meeting “without having the right to do so.”
The AD said that this is a donation according to law, and said that the state cannot donate to any political party. They also mentioned a tweet by the Prime Minister himself about the meeting.
The AD met with Chief Electoral Commissioner Joseph Church, asking him to investigate the matter.
During a press conference held in front of the Electoral Commission’s office in Valletta, AD Chairperson Arnold Cassola and Deputy Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo called on the electoral commission to act immediately to ensure that both the Prime Minister and the Labour Party realise that they are both subject to the rule of law.
They quoted two articles from Party Financing Law. Article 34, they said, stating that political parties cannot receive donations from the State, and Article 5 of the law stating that parties must be treated equally.
“We understand the Electoral Commission might find itself in an uncomfortable position, considering the make-up of the board with members from both the PL and PN present,” Professor Cassola said, while adding that he hopes it will rise above party politics and take action on the situation. The AD representatives mentioned that such things are taken for granted, and stressed that they shouldn’t be.