ADPD calls for stricter party financing scrutiny

ADPD has “urgently” called for scrutiny into political party financing  in a bid to strengthen democracy as the party closed its electoral campaign.

In the final press conference of the campaign on Thursday, ADPD candidate Luke Caruana said the electoral campaign has shown “more than ever” the need for party financing to be regulated by the state.

“We have seen the traditional parties running multi-million euro campaigns and this inevitably makes one ask about the source of all this money,” Caruana said.

ADPD has long championed the need to revise the current legislation on the financing of political parties so that they are no longer allowed to self-regulate.

Caruana added state funding for political parties that obtain a minimum threshold of support would help strengthen democracy as large private donations must be “strictly” controlled.

“There is an urgent need for companies belonging to the two main political parties to be subjected to scrutiny to ascertain that they are not being used illegally to financially support them in any form, including in cash or in kind,” Caruana said.

He also called for greater parliamentary scrutiny on public property used by political parties which is being charged at commercial rates.

“It is not acceptable for political parties to have pending costs with public entities,” he said.

Both the Nationalist Party and the Labour Party have pending payments “running into millions or euros”.

ADPD chairperson Sandra Gauci wrapped up the electoral campaign by urging voters to “stand on their own two feet and vote” for the party if they wanted “serious politics” for Malta.

The party is fielding candidates on all the districts, with Gauci noting each candidate believes “in the fundamental principles of a green vision for our country”.

“We have fought for a clean sea, for public spaces to remain public, through protests as well, supporting our citizens’ endeavours,” Gauci said.

She added the party has insisted on more enforcement in the construction sector, excessive noise and air pollution and waste management.

“We have been vocal about over-tourism, which is eroding our quality of life.  We believe that the word sustainability should be at the core of tourism, and we should no longer use numbers as our only measure.”

Gauci continued that the takeover of public land for development was “always a priority” for ADPD.

“If you feel that you are ignored because you do not have friends in high places or enough money, ADPD is your natural choice,” she said, adding that having a “green voice” in parliament would ensure that issues of social justice, among others, are passed in the next legislature.