Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1097044
NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 27 MARCH 2019 2 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Addressing a press conference launching a public consultation on the proposals, Reforms Parlia- mentary Secretary Julia Farrugia Portelli said she wanted to, above all else, send a message to wom- en that if she – a woman and mother to a young girl – could have a career in politics, so could all other women. She said she was well aware of the challenges preventing women from taking such a step, ranging from gender stereotypes which often made women feel like their place was not in poli- tics, to more practical considera- tions like having to juggle politics and raising children. Despite this reality, Farrugia Portelli said she believed that "small shock to the system" could turn things around. Having discussed the matter with a number of MPs from both sides of the House, and one issue that was most regularly raised was the lack of family-friendly services, such as a childcare ser- vice. This legislature has seen par- liament meet two hours earlier than it always has, with Farrugia Portelli saying that this had al- ready made a big difference. Reform to define us as a people Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that what the government was proposing would "define us as a people". "We are proposing these changes because we believe in an equally represented society, and in one which is fair and which embraces inclusion in the clear- est possible manner," the Prime Minister said. He said the changes being pro- posed were ambitious and would undoubtedly shock the current system. The proposed mechanism, Muscat said, would increases representation in parliament rather than reduce it. "They are not quotas, nobody will take anyone's place…no person elected by the people will have their place taken and the people elected through the mechanism will be elected by the people." Rather, he said that what was being discussed was the intro- duction of "positive measures" aimed at increasing equality and diversity of thought within the country's highest institution. Muscat said he was sure that the "usual conservative voices" would criticise the proposals, noting however that there had been similar opposition to other reforms which are today taken for granted such as every indi- vidual having the right to vote, irrespective of their social status. Arguments against the propos- al, he said would be heard and considered in order to ensure the best possible system is devel- oped. He said arguments against the proposals needed to be heard and considered in order to en- sure the best way forward. Measures based on four main pillars Professor Carman Sammut, the chairperson of the committee behind the reforms, explained that the measures will aim to achieve a critical mass of 33% of women in the House, which has been determined to be the level of representation at which measures are no longer re- quired. The first proposal, she said, would require a change to Malta's constitution and would have a sunset clause of 20 years, meaning the government of the day will need to decide whether to extent the mechanism or not. The first in line to the House will be "hanging candidates" from the under-represented sex who were the last to be eliminat- ed in the proportional represen- tation system of electing MPs. Next, wasted votes of hang- ing candidates from the over- represented sex who were not elected will be utilised to elect a candidate of the under-repre- sented sex. If the desired target is still not achieved, the wasted votes of handing candidates from both sexes which however were elected through a casual election will be utilised to elect a candidate of the under-repre- sented sex. Individuals who identify as gender neutral will be added to whichever of the two sexes is under-represented. The second pillar, focusing on gender mainstreaming and fam- ily-friendly measures will look to sensitise MPs to gender issues, alter working hours, discuss the possibility of backbenchers be- coming full-time MPs, increase female representation on par- liamentary committees and see parliament adopt anti-harass- ment policies. Acknowledging the need for balanced candidate list being presented by parties contesting elections, the technical commit- tee has also recommended legal amendments to the country's party financing laws to allow for state funds that can be used by parties to recruit, promote and train candidates of the under- represented sex. The political parties will be obliged to prepare a financial audit of how funds were utilised to promote better equality be- tween the sexes. Finally, it is being proposed that for the Electoral Commis- sion will also undergo a reform to make it more representative and better able to monitor and regulate the use of state funds by the parties. Request for Expression of Interest Invitation to submit proposals for the lease/emphyteusis and commercialisation of the ex Raes Discotheque site in Pembroke, Malta EOI document to be collected from Ċentru Nazzjonali Laburista, Triq Mile End, Ħamrun Extended closing date for Submissions 12th April 2019 till 12.00pm Constitutional amendments include state funding of parties Parliamentary secretary Julia Farrugia Portelli