“Alternattiva Demokratika-The Green Party is in agreement in principle with the White Paper on the Financing of Politics but considers that most of the details concerning the proposals should be reconsidered.”

This was stated by Arnold Cassola, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, who said that Alternattiva Demokratika has been consistent in its 25 years existence constantly advocating the regulation of politics and political parties.

He added that Alternattiva Demokratika will be participating in the public consultation and for this purpose it has prepared a document with its proposals which it expects to discuss with Government.

Carmel Cacopardo, Deputy Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika, said that he “doubted the wisdom of identifying the Electoral Commission as the regulatory authority on political parties and their finances. Alternattiva Demokratika is proposing that this role is carried out by the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life.”

He said that the Electoral Commission is under the exclusive control of the political parties represented in Parliament in contrast to the Commissioner on Standards in Public Life, who, when appointed with the concurrance of two thirds of the Members of parliament should be, not just a person of integrity but also a person who is acceptable to a very wide segment of the population.”

Cacopardo added that the White Paper discusses the registration of political parties and enters into detail as to how they should be organised. “Whilst Alternattiva Demokratika is in agreement with the proposed registration of the political parties it considers that the White Paper enters into unnecessary detail in this respect.”

“It would have been much better if it restricted itself to the essentials,” he said. “There is agreement that the registration of parties should ensure that these are democratic both in respect of their political thought as well as structurally but there is no need for the White paper to enter into the details of how the internal organisation of a political party functions.”

“There is a danger”, added Cacopardo, “that the difference in size and consequently the available resources of the parties is not factored in.”

“Whilst Alternattiva Demokratika agrees with and accets the proposal that the accounts of a political party should be audited, it is noted that the White Paper does not distinguish between the large parties which have an annual turnover measured in millions and Alternattiva Demokratika whose turnover does not exceed €15,000 per annum. In this respect Alternattiva Demokratika is proposing that, relative to political parties whose turnover does not exceed €100,000 per annum, audit fees should be shouldered by the regulator,” Cacopardo concluded.

Arnold Cassola stated that the White Paper core issues concern the donations to political parties and the manner in which these are regulated. “Alternattiva Demokratika is of the opinion that the thresholds proposed by the White Paper are too high.

He said that “whilst donations less than €4,000 per annum should remain confidential, donations between €4,000 and €40,000 per annum should be public and should be notified to the regulator. It should not be possible to donate more than €40,000 per annum.”

Cassola added that the White paper does not consider loans made to political parties and in particular it ignores the possibility that a loan could be used to camouflage donations and hence avoid transparent procedures. Neither does the White Paper consider the required controls relative to the parties’ commercial activities nor does it examine how there could be introduced more effective controls on the use of public properties by political parties.

Cassola concluded that in the coming weeks Alternattiva Demokratika expects to discuss its views with government.

The text of the document presented to government is available for download here.

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