AD: parties’ spending during electoral campaigns should be capped

Alternattiva Demokratika is sceptical about a Labour proposal not to cap parties' spending during the electoral campaign.

Last week, the government issued a white paper on the financing of political parties. During a discussion on TVM's programme Dissett, PL deputy leader Toni Abela said he believed that spending during electoral campaigns should not be capped.

"What does Toni Abela hves in mind with this proposal? Why doesn't he want party spending to be regulated?" AD chairperson Arnold Cassola said. 

The white paper proposes that the threshold for general elections candidates increases from €1,400 to €25,000. In the case of candidates for European Parliament elections, the white paper recommends a spending threshold of €50,000. For local council elections, a €5,000 capping is recommended.

"We think that these figures are too high: the threshold for local councils' campaign should be between €2,000 and €4,000 depending on the size of the locality; candidates for the general elections should not be allowed to spend more than €4,000 while candidates for the European Parliament elections should not spend more than €20,000," he said.

The green party has long been calling for a party financing law, often calling into question the close ties both PN and Labour have to big business.

Addressing a press conference outside Parliament in Valletta, AD said the publication of the white paper was a long-awaited step in the right direction.

"In principle, we agree with the line of thought proposed. But we are also of the opinion that details should be revisited in their entirety," the party said, adding that the proposals could contribute to a public debate to improve the legislation.

The white paper proposes that the Electoral Commission should act as the regulatory authority, a role that according to AD is not suitable for the commission.

AD's deputy chairman Carmel Cacopardo explained that the Electoral Commission was composed exclusively of individuals who enjoy the trust of the parties in parliament.

"We do not wish to cast any doubts on the personal integrity of the members of the Electoral Commission. But we believe that the persons administering the regulatory authority should enjoy everyone's trust," Cacopardo said.

Cacopardo said the regulatory authority should be under the responsibility of the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life.

AD said it was unacceptable that the law imposed a "one-size-fits-all structure". The white paper emphasises the role of a party leader, a view that is not shared by all political formations. In the case of AD, the party is led by a chairman, which is different form the "imposition of one leader". Other green parties have co-chairmen.

The proposed legislation also goes into further detail, such as requesting parties to have a statute indicating responsibility for electoral nominations, party emblems, disciplinary procedures and more.

"In this sense, the white paper goes overboard and simply increases bureaucratic issues."

Agreeing that there should be a verification of structures, Cacopardo said a party like AD - with an annual turnover of €15,000 - was not in a position to pay for an audit.

The white paper proposes the appointment of a treasurer responsible of preparing the accounts for auditing and submitting these audited accounts for the members' approval.

"A political party with millions in turnover would find no difficulty in employing an auditor. But a party like AD is not in a position to pay for such an audit... if the regulator requires an audit, he should foot the bill," Cacopardo said.

AD pointed out that the white paper proposed nothing about loans, which could be "donations in disguise" and the lack of regulation on the commercial activity of political parties.

Moreover, AD said, the white paper also failed to address the public property in use by the political parties.