Bidla ta’ Vera: Time to clean up political party finance

Malta’s political system is compromised by its dependence on private donors. Major business interests fund both the PL and the PN simultaneously to secure access and influence regardless of who wins. The result is a system where policy is shaped by those who pay, not those who vote. Both parties have had decades to change this. Neither has. Momentum in Parliament will.

Today, Momentum announces three proposals to end the corruption of political finance and restore integrity to public life.

1. State funding of political parties, tied to internal democracy, full financial disclosure and civic engagement

Momentum will work to introduce transparent state funding for political parties. Funding will be allocated on a formula basis and conditional on full financial disclosure, democratic internal governance and meaningful civic engagement. Parties must be incentivised to raise funds from members and the wider public, not from hidden benefactors seeking to purchase policy outcomes. A democracy in which both major parties are bankrolled by the same narrow elite is not a democracy functioning in the public interest.

2. Mandatory full disclosure of all party donations with enforceable caps on contributions

Current party finance regulations are poorly enforced and party funding remains opaque. Citizens have no meaningful way of knowing who finances the parties that govern them or what those donors expect in return. While the law demands a timely publication of all donations above the 7000 euro threshold, in reality the two major parties bypass this through their various TV marathons, where high individual and corporate contributions are hidden within the global amount collected. The public has a right to know who is paying and what they expect in return.

3. Automatic lifetime ban from public office for anyone convicted of corruption

Positions of trust should only go to people who have proven they can be trusted with public money and power. Anyone convicted of corruption will be permanently barred from holding public office. If you abuse the public’s trust, you lose it for good.

“The same handful of businessmen write cheques to both parties and then collect favours from whichever one wins. This is not democracy,” says Carmel Asciak, Momentum’s candidate in 12 and 13 districts. “If elected to represent them in Parliament, Momentum candidates will make sure to build a system that works for everyone.”

There is hope, you can help!

Join Momentum and build a better Malta. Volunteer, donate, or subscribe today!