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insight
Voting
on a local level
The local councils are still a fairly new set-up in Malta, but
the impressive turnout in the elections held so far shows that
the public has quickly become used to casting an extra vote, as
NADINE BRINCAT discovers
On Saturday 10 March, the residents of 22 localities will be going
to the polls.The people of Vittoriosa, Qormi, Siggiewi, Attard,
Birzebbuga, Floriana, Gzira, Gharghur, Hamrun, Kercem, Lija, Marsaxlokk,
Munxar, Paola, Qala, Safi, San Lawrenz, Santa Lucija, Swieqi,
Xaghra, Mosta, and Zebbug (Gozo) will all be choosing the councillors
who they believe can offer the best deal for looking after and
enhancing their locality and the services and facilities on offer
there.
But do people think of their town when they go to the polls, or
does party loyalty alone determine which box gets the vote? Are
the days of the truly independent candidate over, now that the
MLP is channelling its energy into campaigning on a local level
and should we view council elections as a barometer for public
opinion on a political level?
With the elections just two weeks away, these were just some of
the questions that I felt deserved examining.
Local Government minister, Austin Gatt believes the local council
elections provide citizens with the opportunity to select candidates
who will best serve the interests of their locality.
When asked, Dr Gatt said he supports the theory that the popularity
of the government of the day has a bearing on voting patterns.
"I also think that through local council elections, voters
increase their participation in the democratic process, and can
express their opinion on whether or not they are satisfied with
the performance of the government," he said. "They are
barometers for the country, to the extent that they are also barometers
of the locality."
He added, however, that although some nationwide inferences can
be drawn from voter behaviour in the local elections, one should
not draw hasty conclusions.
And what does he feel could be topical issues at these elections?
"Since the elections give voters the opportunity to rate
their councillors' performance, there will be different issues
in each different locality, he answered. "But I cannot understand
the MLP's promises that its candidates will not impose taxes in
Labour majority councils, since the laws currently do not allow
councils to raise taxes."
When asked about voter turnout for the local council elections,
the minister said that he was optimistic, both in terms of candidates
running for elections, and in terms of voter turnout.
"Compared with voter participation in similar elections in
Europe and other western democracies, Maltese local voter turnout
is very high," he concluded.
Harry Vassallo – Alternattiva
Demokratika
"Local council elections are too polarised, they should not
be based on party allegiance, but should be intended for the good
of the locality," Harry Vassallo, Alternattiva Demokratika
Chairman told me.
During the first round of local elections in 1993, eight Alternattiva
candidates were elected in local councils, with what Dr Vassallo
termed as positive voting percentages, however none is contesting
the March 2001 elections.
Dr Vassallo holds that the local council elections have been distorted
by party involvement on a national level, where established political
figures are used by both parties.
"They should be more responsible in this," he claimed.
Dr Vassallo does not believe that the local council election results
are a gauge for the national elections.
"It is unwise and uncalled for to consider local councils
as a barometer for the country, because for one thing, local councils
inevitably have lower voter turnouts," he said. "People
often vote on a personal basis on a local level, where independent
candidates or even colleagues at band clubs are popular."
The AD chairman added that the involvement of the MLP and PN is
undemocratic, because local councils should allow space for independent
candidates, who do not have access to the same propaganda machinery
as the big parties.
Joe Saliba - PN
secretary general
Joe Saliba was proud to say that a record number of 131 candidates
will be contesting the March 2001 local council elections for
the PN. "Several candidates will be contesting for the first
time, while others have already served in their local councils,"
he said.
He added that 28% of the Nationalist candidates are young, while
24% are women. Mr Saliba said the PN presented an electoral programme
in all the localities going to the polls.
"These programmes were drawn up and approved after lengthy
consultations with all those concerned, highlighting residents'
priorities," he said.
The PN secretary general recalled that the MLP was against the
PN's suggestion to introduce local councils when they were introduced
in 1993.
"For several years Labour candidates contested under the
pseudo name ‘independent' although it was an open secret
that they were not independent at all," he said.
Mr Saliba holds that the local councils have brought about a marked
improvement in all localities since their introduction seven years
ago.
"The country is reaping the profits of this, and the local
councils are moving in the right direction," he concluded.
Jimmy Magro – MLP
secretary general
"The Labour party's campaign focuses on local activities,
which the local committees organise through their resources, with
the support of the party campaigners," MLP secretary general,
Jimmy Magro, told MaltaToday.
He added that the campaign is focused on the electoral platform
for each locality and its candidates.
Mr Magro attacked the Nationalist Party for attempting to link
the local elections with the national political barometer, even
in the way it staggers the elections over a period of three years.
"There is a trend which indicates that before the local elections
the PN tries to create a national issue in order to win support,"
he said. He explained that the MLP plans to give added importance
to the social environment of the families that live in each locality,
while hoping to extend local council activities to the social
sphere to enhance community spirit.
"The MLP is gaining experience as regards local councils,"
he said. "We are training the local councillors to build
self confidence and be responsible for their own initiatives.
Councillors should work together with the local committees, and
take concrete initiatives on the electoral platform."
Fact File
The Local Councils Act was published on 30 June 1993
The first Local Council elections were held on 20 November 1993
On 21 December 1999, the Local Councils (Amendment) Act 1999 was
published
Local council elections occur in 68 localities every three years
The largest local council area is Rabat (Malta), with 26.4 sq.
km The smallest is Senglea - 0.16 sq. km
Birkirkara is the largest local council, in terms of population,
with 21,603 residents
The smallest local council in terms of population is Mdina, with
349 residents
Percentages of voter turnout in the 2000 local elections:
Mdina 84% Lija 81% Tarxien 71%
Cospicua 68% Marsaskala 64% Xghajra 70%
Zabbar 71% Mgarr 84% Mtarfa 71%
Rabat (Gozo) 80% Msida 67%
Birkirkara 65% Naxxar 71%
Fgura 70 % Pieta 75%
Gudja 82% Rabat (Malta) 76%
Gharb 84% San Gwann 65%
Ghaxaq 74% Sannat 86%
Kalkara 80% Sliema 67%
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