Nationalist Party, independent MP push forward motion calling for vote 16

Opposition party PN whip David Agius and MP Marlene Farrugia have tabled a parliamentary motion to discuss allowing 16-year-olds to vote in the general election

Independent MP Marlene Farrugia and PN whip David Agius
Independent MP Marlene Farrugia and PN whip David Agius

Opposition parliamentary whip David Agius and MP Marlene Farrugia have this morning tabled a parliamentary motion that proposes allowing 16-year-olds to vote in future general elections.

The proposed measure will require an amendment to the Constitution, approved by two-thirds majority vote in the House of Representatives.

“As the House feels that it is just and fitting that 16-year-old youths can work, pay tax, contribute to national weath creation and economic growth, and can also legally marry...they should also have the right to be electors of the Members of the House of Representatives,” the motion reads.

"It was only now after the clear declaration by the leader of the Nationalist Party, Simon Busuttil yesterday evening, when Muscat was made aware that this motion was to be tabled, that with great panic the government and its media - meaning TVM, ONE and Orizzont - announced that next month it would be considering commissioning a study into this possibility. This, while bringing the excuse that it lacked, the electoral mandate to introduce this right," Agius told a press conference outside parliament this morning.

He reminded the PL that it lacked the mandate to do many things, amongst them selling citizenship and the opening of secret shell companies in Panama.

Replying to questions fielded by the press, Agius clarified that the motion was for voting rights and not candidates. He also pointed out that Government had not convened a sitting of the Youth Parliament for months, despite having all the time it needed.

On her part, Farrugia said that as an MP elected on a labour ticket, she believed that the time had come to give our youth the opportunity to contribute and praised their positive input in society. She said she hoped Parliament would speak with one voice on this issue. "This is a vote of confidence in Maltese and Gozitan youth."

16-year-olds were first given the right to vote in the 2015 local councils elections, with the Labour government expressing interest in extending the vote to MEP elections. Coincidentally, the national broadcaster last night reported that the government was considering the possibility to announce Vote 16 in next month's budget, allow 16-year-olds to vote in the next general election.

In a reaction, the Labour Party said it was a pity that the opposition was politicising an issue which enjoyed cross-partisan consensus, recalling a speech delivered by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in April 2015.

“It is clear that the Nationalist Party is negative and wants to open a front on something where agreement exists,” the PL said.

The Labour Party has been voicing its support for vote 16 for over a year now, announcing it was in favour of extending their right to vote in the general and European parliament elections.

The PL went on to add that the government, contrary to the opposition, has been working a lot to help improve the participation of youths in society, not least by launching the youth guarantee that helps train students who would otherwise become jobless.

In a brief reaction, Green Party Alternattiva Democratika pointed out that the  proposal to allow 16-year olds to vote in all elections, had first been proposed by Alternattiva Demokratika Zghazagh, as part of Alternatttiva Demokratika's electoral manifesto for the 2013 elections.It was the only party to include this proposal in its electopral programme at the time, a party spokesman said.