Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1377253
3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 26 MAY 2021 NEWS NICOLE MEILAK ADPD has officially launched constitutional proceedings to challenge the validity of the elec- toral system, arguing that it dis- criminates against third parties. The proceedings are a re- action to a recent corrective mechanism adopted by parlia- ment which would allocate ad- ditional parliamentary seats to reduce gender imbalance. "However, this mechanism will only apply if Parliament is composed of members of parliament from only two po- litical parties. In the event of the election of a third party, this adjustment mechanism to reduce gender imbalance will not apply," ADPD Chairper- son Carmel Cacopardo said on Tuesday. During a press conference on the issue, Cacopardo said that while this was the initial reason behind launching legal proceedings, he added that a proportionality mechanism embedded in the Constitution is also discriminatory against third parties, rendering the whole electoral system dis- criminatory by design. The mechanism in question provides for an adjustment to the number of parliamentary seats even if it does not cor- respond to the proportion of votes. "This is when it occurred to us that we have to tackle the whole system," he added. "Together, there two mecha- nisms consolidate a discrimi- natory barrier through which a two-party parliament keeps out other parties." "The recent amendments have added to the situation, and for us it is the last straw," he told MaltaToday. Cacopardo further explained that ADPD has not yet put for- ward a detailed alternative to the gender corrective mecha- nism because these concepts need to be accepted in princi- ple first. However, ADPD had suggest- ed earlier this year that a party obtaining 2.5% or more votes nationally should be guaran- teed representation in parlia- ment. He also expressed disappoint- ment in the fact that neither party wanted to discuss these proposals with them prior to the mechanism being adopted. "They never gave us a chance to discuss," Cacopardo said. ADPD takes on electoral discrimination in constitutional proceedings Malta's green party will be challenging the validity of the electoral system, arguing that it discriminates against third parties ADPD Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 "Air Malta joins the aviation community headed by IATA, the International Air Transport As- sociation, that condemned any in- terference or requirement for the landing of civil aviation operations that is inconsistent with the rules of international law," Air Malta said. On Sunday, Belarus scrambled a fighter jet to force Ryanair flight FR4978 from Athens to Vilnius to land, claiming a bomb threat. The flight landed in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, at 1.16pm local time. Police then arrested journal- ist Roman Protasevich after all 126 passengers disembarked. Western countries have accused Belarus of hijacking the Ryanair plane. Belarus claimed the flight was diverted because of a bomb threat from the Palestinian mili- tant group Hamas – however, the group has denied involvement. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the Belarusian claim was "completely implausible." In the wake of this, EU leaders agreed to ban Belarusian airlines from the bloc and urged EU-based carriers not to fly over its airspace. The leaders also warned they would adopt further "targeted eco- nomic sanctions" against the Be- larusian authorities to add to the 88 regime figures and seven com- panies already on a blacklist over a crackdown on the opposition. Several European airlines have al- ready pledged not to fly over Bela- rus airspace, including Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, SAS and Lot. EU threatens further 'targeted economic sanctions' against Belarusian authorities Roman Protasevich was arrested after all 126 passengers on board the diverted Ryanair passenger jet disembarked