Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/290775
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 APRIL 2014 11 News Political financing • What are the parties saying? Nationalist Party Alternattiva Demokratika The right of association should be clearly pronounced in law, ensuring that persons associated to or members of parties are not discriminated against. The Opposition is demanding an "ample" discussion on internal discipline structures. While agreeing with guaranteeing a fair hearing and having an independent structure, the PN holds that persons facing disciplinary action should not be allowed to stall political parties, e.g. by seeking court remedies. Parties should only be dissolved by court if a party is guilty of advocating xenophobia, homophobia and racism or criminal activity. Since government nominates the majority of the electoral commission members, which the PN says could lead to possible abuse, the regulatory duties should be carried out by a Commissioner for Standards, elected by a two-thirds majority in parliament. The Greens did not make a reference to the right of association and the dissolution of parties in their list of proposals. However, Alternattiva Demokratika said the white paper goes overboard over disciplinary structures, insisting that the proposals just add bureaucracy. Furthermore, AD said the electoral commission should not take on the duties of a regulatory body since the commission is composed of persons chosen by the two parties represented in parliament. Instead, in agreement with the PN, the Greens propose that the function should be carried out by the Commissioner for Standards. The PN is proposing that the registration criteria should be defined clearly and the instances for refusal should be "very limited". Parties should also be given more freedom in deciding its internal structures and roles as long as accountability is guaranteed. While agreeing with the proposal to have parties registered, the Greens say that it is "unacceptable that the law imposes a one-size-fits-all structure". AD agrees that parties should be politically and structurally democratic, however parties should be free to decide on the roles within the internal structures. The PN agrees that party accounts should be submitted and published as stipulated by the white paper. The Greens agree with having party accounts audited and published however it differs on whether small parties should be treated in the same way as bigger ones. It points out that given that its annual income does not exceed €15,000, it is not in a position to pay for an audit. Instead the regulator should foot the bill if a party's income does not exceed €100,000. Donations of up to €1,000 should remain anonymous and registered on the party's books. Donations between €1,001 and €10,000 should be registered, including name and other details, and these can be inspected by the regulator. Donations between €10,001 and €25,000 should be registered with the regulator. The maximum legal limit should be set at €25,000. While a receipt should be issued for every donation, in AD's view donations below the amount of €4,000 per annum from one person should remain confidential and no information about such donations should be divulged except during the auditing process. Donations between €4,000 and €40,000 should be registered and notified to the regulator. Donations in excess of €40,000 should be illegal. Candidates' expenses before or during the general elections cannot exceed €15,000. The threshold for European elections should stand at €35,000 while that for local elections should remain at €5,000. Additionally, candidates contesting administrative committee elections should have a €1,000 capping. The PN proposes a threshold for the political parties' expenditure during election campaigns. AD proposes that candidates' expenses before or during the general elections cannot exceed €4,000. The threshold for European elections should stand at €20,000 while that for local elections should be between €2,000 and €4,000, depending on the size of the locality. The Greens also propose a threshold for the political parties' expenditure during election campaigns. Loans between €10,000 and €25,000 to parties from entities that are not banks or financial institution should be registered in the party's books, including names and details, for inspection by the regulator. Loans of over €25,000 should be registered with the regulator; loans of over €500,000 should be illegal. The regulator should ascertain that loans are not camouflaged as donations. The opposition says that companies owned by parties should not be used to circumvent the law on party financing. Party companies should be regulated and kept separate from the parties' administration. Parties should not be allowed to keep information on such companies secret on the basis of commercially sensitive information. The PN claims Labour is benefitting from commercial or speculative use of properties taken from government or the private sector. Therefore it proposes that the regulator values Labour's property and to restore an equivalent value to the PN. The Greens say that commercial rent should be paid for the use of such properties.