Two candidates for the upcoming European Parliament elections are organising lotteries with prizes ranging from cars to week-long holidays in Dubai.

Labour Party candidate Joe Sammut has a Fiat Panda car up for grabs - and has set up the mini hatchback vehicle on display right outside parliament in Valletta.

A lawyer by profession, Dr Sammut is advertising the “raffle” on social media, with passers-by in Valletta able to catch a glimpse of the city car or buy as many €5 tickets for the lottery as they please. 

Dr Sammut advertising his lottery.Dr Sammut advertising his lottery.

Tickets can be bought until 9.30pm on Tuesday May 21. The prize draw will happen 30 minutes later at Montekristo Estates, a list of terms and conditions published on Dr Sammut’s personal website states.

Dr Sammut has made it clear that all proceeds from the lottery will go towards the Malta Community Chest Fund and Malta Hospice Movement.

Despite that assurance, the lottery – coming just days before voters go to the polls to elect six European Parliament members – has prompted a mix of dismay and contempt on social media.

Democratic Party candidate Camilla Appelgren, who is campaigning on a green platform and has called for reduced car use, said she “nearly choked on her coffee” when she spotted the car.

“Now they [Labour] also give away cars in exchange for votes?!” she asked.

Dr Sammut is not the only PL candidate to have gone down the lottery route: fellow Labour MEP candidate Lorna Vassallo is also organising a lottery, boasting there are more than €5,000 worth of prizes up for grabs.

Those prizes include a seven-day trip to Dubai with accommodation in a five-star hotel, a Charles Arthur sculpture valued at €931 and two hampers.

Those who do not win one of those prizes can try console themselves with a second, free lottery with €200 in prizes up for grabs.

A Malta Gaming Authority official will be present during the prize draw, Ms Vassallo’s Facebook post advertising her lottery hastened to add.

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