Monday, February 16, 2015

The Right to Vote of Maltese Emigrants -- Id-Dritt tal-Vot tal-Emigranti Maltin


The Right to Vote for Maltese Emigrants


Australia recently has seen voting at some important elections in a short span of time - Victoria last November and Queensland where votes are still being counted (finalised now - Ed). In this article, I will be talking about a proposal for Maltese citizens residing outside Malta to be able to vote in Maltese elections.

This is not a new idea, and has already been raised publicly by others.1 It is separate from the idea that immigrants, refugees and people from the EU living in Malta are given the right to vote.2 In general, there does not seem to be a consensus in Malta for any one of these possibilities to come to fruition.3 4

Here I will only treat the question on the vote for Maltese emigrants.

Today, the Maltese Constitution says that you need to be resident in Malta for a total of six months in a period of 18 months, to be able to be listed in the Electoral Register.5 This automatically rules out Maltese citizens who reside permanently outside Malta (like myself).

It may be noted that recently, the European Commission maintained that countries that limited this right to their emigrants should be removing this restriction, which it described as anachronistic in this day and age.6 It said this when referring to the United Kingdom, which limits this right after 15 years away from the country - how much more is this comment applicable to Malta!

In Australia, you can remain registered as a voter as long as you declare your intention to return to the country within six years.7

Is it common for citizens to loose the right to participate in the democratic process in their country on the basis of having emigrated?

The Guardian newspaper says that there are 110 countries that allow people, having their country's passport and live outside of the country, to vote, although there is a big variation in the context in which they may exercise this right, and for which length of time.8 These represent a majority of the 193 country members of the United Nations.

The Institute on Security, Defence and International Studies says that a number of European countries are making it easier for their citizens who live outside the country to vote, citing Spain, Italy, France and Hungary, as well as North African countries like Tunisia and Algeria.9

Why Not?

Malta has a population of just above 400,000 and it is said there are as many Maltese and their descendants, at least eligible for Maltese citizenship, that live permanently in other countries. If one notes that Maltese general elections, normally with the exception of the last one in 2013, are won with a minimal difference of less than 1%, there is the fear that the emigrant vote would have radically changed the result. The Maltese living in Malta, passing through the cut and thrust of each election, especially if his/her party won, would not want any risk that 'we'd have lost if the emigrants voted'!

This fear is understandable, however probably exaggerated. In the UK, where emigrants may vote up to 15 years after they had left, the Electoral Commission has reported that out of 5 million British living abroad, only a few thousand had registered to vote in 2009.10

This fear may even disappear when considering it is not necessarily the case for representatives of emigrants being elected via proportional representation. In other words, there could be a district representing all emigrants, with a quota depending upon the amount of registered registrants and the number of members that may be elected, which may even be only one or two. Furthermore, these members may have limits to their powers, for example being unable to topple a government.

One often hears that given emigrants are no longer paying tax, and they are probably not informed about the situation in their country, they should not participate.

On the tax issue, although this is true (where there's a double taxation agreement), it has to be said that many emigrants, especially us of the first generation, have paid tax in the past, have contributed to social services and the pension through the National Insurance contribution, for a span of many years, decades even.

Apart from this, many Maltese emigrants still have strong concrete interests in the country, not only family members that reside there, but also property and commercial activities. One should also not forget the financial contribution that was sent over the years, by Maltese emigrants back to their family members, to sustain them in hard times, like the period after the second world war and the period after the closure of the British naval base, when Malta had to pass through a period of economic transition. Those who were involved in this activity say that this contribution was substantial.

That emigrants are not well informed about what's happening in Malta is debatable. I think we're clutching at straws here. I have to say that when talking to Maltese living in Malta, with many I don't get the impression they are well informed, as I mostly only hear a repetition of the official line of the party they support. Can these be considered well informed? Anyone who has the right to vote should make it incumbent to be well informed, wherever his or her residence is. Who is going to examine whether a voter is well informed? And who will examine the examiner?

Why should there be the right to vote?

The book Who Has A Right To Vote states that when emigrants that are still citizens are allowed to vote, the country is giving them a message that they are still part of the community, and that they will be welcome should they choose to return.11 I can say that when I talk to other emigrants, the thought of whether ever to return to the country of origin is never far from the mind.

Today I have a dual citizenship, Australian and Maltese. Today, I know who represents my interests as an Australian citizen in the local council at Blacktown, in the state parliament in NSW and in the federal one of Australia. I'd like to ask, who represents my interests as a Maltese citizen in Malta? Should I only accept any decision taken in parliament, without having my voice heard? Am I a Maltese citizen or not?

I say it is important to have someone representing my interests as a Maltese citizen and emigrant, who can talk during debates, and possibly also vote, in the locations where crucial decisions are taken that affect the Maltese, and even emigrants directly, on the national level (Maltese Parliament), local level (the local council of the last place of residence in Malta) and supra-national (EU Parliament).

What forms of voting may be considered?

The effect of the emigrant vote on the house involved, is debatable, and there are many viewpoints here. I will not be suggesting or providing preferences of one form over another.

However I'd like to mention a few alternatives that have been mentioned, which may be considered:
  • the right to vote being limited to local and/or European elections (as in Spain);
  • that a district with the standard number of members, or districts with less members, for emigrants (as in Italy or France);
  • the vote be equivalent to that made in the country (as in the UK);
  • members elected be restricted on what they can vote on, while having the right to propose legislation and participate in debates.

The important thing is not just to say no and stop there, as seems to be the case now. There are many Maltese citizens, emigrants, who are very hurt about this subject, and I wish to see a serious debate and some resolution.

I think the question that should be asked isn't why should the Maltese diaspora be given the right to vote, but why is it being denied!


5Kostituzzjoni ta' Malta, Sezzjoni 57
10House of Commons Library, Standard Note SN/PC/05923, 2014, p4
11Establishing The Rules Of The Game: Election Laws In Democracies; L. Massicotte, A. Blais & A Yoshinaka, 2004; University of Toronto Press; p.31



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 Id-Dritt tal-Vot tal-Emigranti Maltin


Fl-Awstralja dan l-aħħar kellna xi votazzjonijiet f'elezzjonijiet importanti f'qasir żmien - Victoria f'Novembru li għadda, u Queensland fejn il-voti għadhom jingħaddu. F'dan l-artiklu, se nitkellem fuq proposta li ċittadini Maltin li jgħixu barra minn Malta jkunu jistgħu jivvutaw f'elezzjonijiet Maltin.

Din mhix xi ideja ġdida, u ġieli kien hemm min qajjimha pubblikament1. Hija separata mill-ideja l-oħra li immigranti, rifuġjati u nies mill-UE li jgħixu f'Malta jingħataw id-dritt tal-vot.2 In ġenerali, f'Malta ma jidhirx li hemm kunsens li xi waħda minn dawn il-possibiltajiet iseħħu3 4.

Jien hawn se nitratta biss il-kwestjoni tal-vot għall-emigranti Maltin.

Illum, il-Kostituzzjoni ta' Malta tgħid li trid tkun residenti f'Malta għal total ta' sitt xhur f'perjodu ta' tmintax il-xahar, biex tkun tista' tkun imniżżel fir-Reġistru Elettorali.5 Dan awtomatikament jaqta' 'l barra liċ-ċittadini Maltin li jgħixu permanentement barra minn Malta (bħali).

Ta' min jgħid ukoll li riċentement, il-Kummissjoni Ewropeja sostniet li dawk il-pajjiżi li qed jillimitaw dan id-dritt lill-emigranti tagħhom, għandhom ineħħu din ir-restrizzjoni, li sejħitilha bħala anakronistika f'dawn iż-żminijiet.6 Qalet dan għar-Renju Unit, li jillimita dan id-dritt wara 15-il sena nieqes mill-pajjiż - ara kemm iktar japplika għal Malta!

Fl-Awstralja, tista tibqa' irreġistrat bħala votant basta tiddikjara li beħsiebek tirritorna fil-pajjiż fi żmien sitt snin7.

Hija xi ħaġa komuni li ċittadini jitilfu d-dritt li jipparteċipaw fil-proċess demokratiku ta' pajjiżhom minħabba li jkunu emigraw?

Il-gazzetta The Guardian tgħid li hemm 110 pajjiż li jħallu lil min għandu passaport tal-pajjiż u jgħix barra mill-pajjiż biex jivvota, għalkemm hemm varjazzjoni kbira dwar il-kuntest fejn jistgħu jeżerċitaw dan id-dritt, u għal liema tul ta' żmien.8 Dawn jiġu l-maġġoranza tal-193 pajjiżi membri tal-Ġnus Magħquda.

L-Istitut fuq is-Siġurtà, Difiża u Studji Internazzjonali jgħid li diversi pajjiżi Ewropej qed jagħmluha iktar faċli biex iċ-ċittadini tagħhom li jgħixu barra jivvutaw, u jsemmi lil Spanja, l-Italja, Franza u l-Ungerija, u wkoll pajjiżi tat-tramuntana tal-Afrika bħat-Tuneżija u l-Alġerija li qed jagħmlu dan.9

X'inhu l-argument bil-kontra?

F'Malta, hemm popolazzjoni ta' ftit 'il fuq minn erba' mitt elf, u jingħad li hemm daqstant ieħor Maltin jew dixxendenti tagħhom, tal-inqas eliġġibli għaċ-ċittadinanza Maltija, li jgħixu permanentement f'pajjiżi oħra. Meta wieħed jinnota li l-elezzjonijiet ġenerali f'Malta, normalment bl-eċċezzjoni tal-aħħar waħda fl-2013, jintrebħu b'differenza minima ta' inqas minn 1%, hemm il-biża' li l-vot tal-emigranti aktarx kien jibdel radikalment ir-riżultat. Min hu Malti u jgħix f'Malta, u jgħaddi mit-tensjoni u l-ġlieda qalila ta' kull elezzjoni, speċjalment jekk il-partit tiegħu rebaħ, ma jkunx irid xi riskju li 'forsi kieku vvutaw l-emigranti konna nitilfu'!

Din il-biża' hija ta' min jifhimha, imma aktarx ukoll li hija esaġerata. Fir-Renju Unit, fejn l-emigranti jistgħu jivvutaw sa' ħmistax-il sena wara li jkunu telqu, ġie rrappurtat mill-Kummissjoni Elettorali li minn 5 miljun ċittadini Brittanniċi li jgħixu barra, ftit eluf biss kienu rreġistraw biex jivvutaw fil-2009.10

Din il-biża' tista' tisparixxi jekk jiġi kkunsidrat li mhux bilfors li min jirrappreżenta lill-emigranti jittella bi proċess proporzjonali. Fi kliem ieħor, jista' jkun hemm distrett li jirrappreżenta lill-emigranti kollha, bil-kwota tiddependi fuq l-ammont ta' emigranti reġistrati u l-membri li jistgħu jitilgħu, li jistgħu ikunu wieħed biss jew tnejn. Ukoll dawn il-membri jista' jkollhom limitu tal-poteri tagħhom, p.e. li ma jistgħux iwaqqgħu il-gvern.

Wieħed ukoll spiss jisma' li ladarba l-emigranti m'għadhomx iħallsu t-taxxa, u li aktarx m'għadhomx infurmati fuq is-sitwazzjoni tal-pajjiż, m'għandhom jipparteċipaw.

Fuq it-taxxa, għalkemm dan huwa veru (fejn hemm ftehim fuq it-taxxa doppja), irid jingħad ukoll li ħafna emigranti, speċjalment aħna tal-ewwel ġenerazzjoni, ħallasna taxxi fil-passat, ikkontribwejna għas-servizzi soċjali u għall-pensjoni bil-bolla, fuq medda ta' diversi snin, anke għexieren ta' snin.

Barra dan, hemm ħafna Maltin emigranti li għad baqagħlom interessi konkreti qawwija fil-pajjiż, mhux biss ta' familjari li għadhom joqogħdu hemm, imma anke proprjetà jew attivitajiet kummerċjali. Ukoll wieħed ma jridx jinsa l-kontribuzzjoni finanzjarja li ntbagħtet matul iż-żmien, mill-Maltin emigranti lura lejn il-familjari tagħhom, bħala sostenn fiż-żminijiet iebsa bħal ta' wara t-tieni gwerra dinjija u anke meta l-bażi navali tal-Ingliżi kienet qed tagħlaq, u Malta kien jeħtiġilha tgħaddi minn perjodu ta' transizzjoni ekonomika. Min kien involut jgħid li din il-kontribuzzjoni kienet sostanzjali.

Li l-emigranti mhumiex infurmati tajjeb fuq dak li qed jiġri Malta huwa diskutibbli. Jien naħseb li qegħdin infettqu hawnhekk. Jien irrid ngħid li meta nitkellem ma' Maltin li jgħixu Malta, ma ħafna minnhom ma tantx nieħu impressjoni li għandhom informazzjoni tajba, għax ħlief jirrepetu il-linja uffiċjali tal-partit tagħhom ma jagħmlux. Dawn jiġu kkunsidrati iktar infurmati? Kull min għandu d-dritt tal-vot, għandu jinforma ruħu, joqgħod fejn joqgħod. Min se jeżamina jekk min jivvotu hux infurmat sew? U min se jeżamina lil min jeżamina?

Għalfejn għandu jkun hemm id-dritt tal-vot?

Il-ktieb Who Has A Right To Vote jgħid li meta tħalli lill-emigranti li għadhom ċittadini jivvutaw, il-pajjiż ikun qed jagħtihom messaġġ li għadhom parti mill-komunità, u li jintlaqgħu jekk jirritornaw lura.11 Nista' ngħid li meta nitkellem ma' emigranti oħra, dan il-ħsieb dwar jekk qattx tirritorna lura f'pajjiżek ma jkunx wisq 'il bogħod.

Illum jiena għandi ċ-ċittadinanza doppja, tal-Awstralja u ta' Malta. Illum, jien naf min jirrappreżenta l-interessi tiegħi bħala ċittadin Awstraljan fil-kunsill lokali ta' Blacktown, fil-parlament statali ta' NSW u dak federali hawnhekk fl-Awstralja. Jien nistaqsi, min jirrapreżenta l-interessi tiegħi bħala ċittadin Malti f'Malta? Għandi biss naċċetta kwalunkwe deċiżjoni li tittieħed fil-parlament, mingħajr ma nsemma leħni? Jien ċittadin Malti jew m'iniex?

Jien ngħid li huwa importanti li jkun hemm xi ħadd li jirrappreżenta l-interessi tiegħi bħala emigrant u ċittadin Malti, li jista' jitkellem waqt dibattitu, u possibilment anke jivvota, fil-post fejn jittieħdu deċiżjonijiet kruċjali li jaffettwaw lill-Maltin u anke direttament lill-emigranti, fuq livell nazzjonali (il-Parlament), fuq livell lokali (il-kunsill lokali tal-aħħar post ta' residenza Maltija) u fuq livell supra-nazzjonali (il-Parlament tal-UE).

X'forom ta' voti jistgħu jiġu kkunsidrati?

X'effett dan il-vot tal-emigranti jista' jkollu fil-kamra li tkun, huwa dibattibbli, u hemm ħafna veduti fuq dan. Hawnhekk, m'iniex nissuġġerixxi jew nippreferi forma fuq oħra.

Biss xtaqt insemmi ftit alternattivi li ssemmew, li jistgħu jiġu kkunsidrati:
  • il-dritt tal-vot ikun biss għall-elezzjonijiet lokali u/jew Ewropej (bħal Spanja);
  • jiġi stabbilit distrett bl-istess ammont ta' membri, jew distretti b'inqas membri, għall-emigranti (bħal ma jagħmlu l-Italja u Franza);
  • il-vot ikun ekwivalenti daqs li kieku tgħix fil-pajjiż (bħar-Renju Unit);
  • il-membri eletti jkollhom restrizzjoni fuq xiex jistgħu jivvutaw, filwaqt li jkollhom id-dritt li jressqu leġislazzjoni għall-vot u jipparteċipaw fid-dibattiti.

L-importanti hu li ma jingħadx 'le' u daqshekk, bħal ma jidher li hu l-każ issa. Hawn ħafna ċittadini Maltin, emigranti, li jħossuhom imweġġgħin fuq dan is-suġġett, u jalla jkun hemm dibattitu serju u xi forma ta' riżoluzzjoni.

Jien naħseb li l-kwistjoni mhix għandhiex id-dijaspora Maltija tingħata d-dritt tal-vot, imma għaliex qed tiġi mċaħħda!


5Kostituzzjoni ta' Malta, Sezzjoni 57
10House of Commons Library, Standard Note SN/PC/05923, 2014, p4
11Establishing The Rules Of The Game: Election Laws In Democracies; L. Massicotte, A. Blais & A Yoshinaka, 2004; University of Toronto Press; p.31


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