Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/333851
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 22 JUNE 2014 8 News Government yet to discuss postponement of local elections Integratio n beyond the vote A proposal to grant migrants the right to vote divided public opinion, however integration of asylum seekers goes beyond voting rights. JURGEN BALZAN takes a look at the far-reaching proposals put forward by Aditus THE report issued last week by human rights organisation Aditus caused a bit of a stir with one of its proposals to grant the right to vote to migrants in local elections at- tracting a lot of attention. However, the recommendation to provide third-country nationals (TCNs) residing in Malta with bet- ter opportunities for political par- ticipation overshadowed a plethora of far-reaching recommendations made. The document tackles areas such as access to citizenship, education, labour market mobility and family reunion, as well as the political par- ticipation of TCNs. A recent Eurostat survey showed that Maltese citizens made up 93.3% of the country's total population, while the number of foreign citizens stood at approximately 6.7%. The foreign population has ex- panded from 11,999 in 2005 to 18,088 in 2010 and 20,384 in 2011. Although the migrant popula- tion has doubled over the past 20 years, Maltese laws and policies re- main among the weakest and least favourable in Europe, the report notes, adding that there is still a lack of expertise in how to manage migration and the diversity that re- sults from multiculturalism. This is a brief overview of the key recommendations in the 37- page document which is aimed at national policy makers, on how to maximise the success of the various stages of TCN integration process in Malta. National Integration Policy The report proposes the creation of a consultative council that would allow migrants to dialogue with the government on legislation and poli- cy affecting migrants, on new initia- tives and on outreach projects. The council should represent mi- grants from various ethnic minority groups and should be allocated suf- ficient funds to carry out awareness campaigns. Anti-discrimination Unlike other EU member states, migration consistently tops the list of main concerns of the Maltese and the report concludes that legal provisions against racist expres- JURGEN BALZAN THE government has not yet dis- cussed the proposal floated three weeks ago by the Prime Minister to postpone the next two rounds of lo- cal elections, in order to hold local elections en masse in 2019, simul- taneously with the European Parlia- ment elections. "No discussions have been held at Cabinet level so far," a government spokesperson told MaltaToday. However, questions about whether the issue would be discussed by the Cabinet in the coming weeks re- mained unanswered. The next round of elections for half of the 68 local councils is due in March next year, followed by an- other round in 2017, while the next round of European Parliament elec- tions will be held in May 2019. If the local elections get postponed to 2019, it would effectively mean that the term of a number of local councils would be extended to eight years, from the mandated three-year term. However if the proposal goes through, it would also mean that the hunting referendum, which the Coalition Against Spring Hunting expects to be held in March 2015, would not be held with the local elections. Holding a stand-alone referendum would deliver a blow to the coalition's hopes of attracting enough voters to polling stations. In the absence of a 50% turnout, the referendum result would not be legally binding. Although the Nationalist Party has publicly said that it would back the postponement of local elections as long as the transition took a number of years, sources have told MaltaTo- day that the opposition is concerned with what it deems as the Prime Minister's attempt to derail the anti- spring hunting campaign by holding a stand-alone referendum. Sources have confirmed that the coalition also shares such concerns, however any attempt to encourage abstention could backfire on the government and the hunting lobby because it could not only end up with an ineffectual but symbolic landslide victory for the anti-spring hunting camp, but the coalition could end rallying enough support to achieve a quorum. The Prime Minister has argued that postponing the local elections would save the country money and spare the electorate yet another elec- toral campaign. However, the move has fuelled sus- picions that the Labour government, which signed a vague pre-electoral agreement with the hunting lobby on the eve of the 2013 general elec- tion, is seeking ways to appease the hunters. Opinion polls show a majority against hunting, however the Labour government and the opposition have consistently argued against a ban on spring hunting. Moreover, in recent weeks the gov- ernment has controversially decided to take the first steps towards re- opening the banned practice of finch trapping, which BirdLife Malta said would set bird conservation in Malta five years back. Although the date for the referen- dum has not been set, it is expected that in the next two weeks, the elec- toral commission will conclude the verification process of the 44,000 signatures collected by the Coali- tion Against Spring Hunting. Once the verification process is complete, opponents can challenge the refer- endum request over procedural mat- ters. If this stage is cleared, then a date for the referendum would be set by the electoral commission. - Supply of Energy Ecient Desktop Computers, Laptop Computers and Ultra Portable Laptops – T030/14 Issued on: 6 June 2014 / Closing on: 18 July 2014 Economic operators interested in participating in these call for tenders are to note that workshops are organised by the Department of Contracts at the premises of Centre for Development Research and Training (CDRT ), San Salvatore Bastion, Sa Maison Road, Floriana. During these workshops, economic operators will have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with compiling and submitting a tender online. More information is available in the tender document. Invitation to TENDER MITA NOTIFIES THAT OFFERS WILL BE RECEIVED FOR: For further information, contact the Contracts Management Department The above tenders are obtainable from the Electronic Public Procurement System (www.etenders.gov.mt) 2123 4710 www.mita.gov.mt If the proposal goes through, it would also mean that the hunting referendum, which the Coalition Against Spring Hunting expects to be held in March 2015, would not be held with the local elections