Momentum proposals: A voice for citizens, not just at election time

For Labour and the Nationalist Party, democracy ends the moment the ballot box closes. Citizens are summoned every five years, asked to choose between two near-identical parties, and then expected to step back while major decisions are taken behind closed doors. Momentum rejects this. It believes that democracy must be something people do, not something done to them. Today, Momentum sets out three concrete proposals to put real democratic power back in citizens’ hands between elections.

Introduce Vision Circles as ongoing policy consultation forums

Policy in Malta is too often written in the offices of ministers and developers, with citizens consulted only when it is too late to change anything. Momentum will introduce Vision Circles as permanent, ongoing consultation forums that bring together people from every background to actively shape the policies that affect their lives. Momentum in Parliament will push to formalise the Vision Circles format as a standing feature of how policy is made in Malta, so that every citizen has a real voice in policy-making, not just at election time.

Introduce propositional referendums, not just abrogative ones

Malta’s referendum law allows citizens to remove parts of existing laws, but not to propose new ones. This is half a democracy and treats citizens as a brake to be applied only when politicians have gone too far, never as a source of fresh legislation. Momentum in Parliament will push to change the referendum law so citizens can propose new laws directly, not just react to what the political class hands them. People should be able to shape legislation, not simply tear it down.

Mandatory public consultation on all projects worth over €1 million before any money is committed

Time and again, Maltese taxpayers learn about major projects only after the contracts have been signed, the cement has been ordered, and the consultation has become a formality. From Vitals to the Marsascala marina, the pattern is the same: decide first, ask the public later. Momentum in Parliament will push for mandatory public consultation on every project worth over €1 million before a single euro is committed. Big projects use taxpayers’ money. Taxpayers must be in the room before the decision is taken, not after.

Dr Matthew Agius, candidate in the 2nd and 8th districts, said: “PL and PN treat democracy as a vote every five years and a silence in between. Malta has watched too many decisions taken without us, too many contracts signed without us, too many laws written for someone else’s benefit. Momentum’s three proposals give citizens a real voice in the rooms where decisions are taken, the power to propose new laws and not just react to bad ones, and a guaranteed say before public money is committed to major projects. What we are proposing is a Bidla ta’ Vera.”

There is hope, you can help!

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