Mill‑PARLAMENT

Nr 25 Diċembru 2020 December 2020 PARLAMENT TA’ MALTA

mill‑PARLAMENT

Perjodiku maħruġ mill‑Uffiċċju tal‑Ispeaker

Periodical issued by the Office of the Speaker

1 mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020 Għotja demm... servizz soċjali mill-poplu għall-poplu

Inħeġġuk biex nhar il-Ħamis, 6 ta’ Mejju 2021 bejn it-8:30am u s-1:00pm tiġi quddiem il-bini tal-Parlament biex tagħmel donazzjoni ta’ demm.

Tinsiex iġġib miegħek il-karta tal-identità.

Minħabba l-imxija tal-COVID-19, qed jittieħdu l-miżuri kollha meħtieġa biex tkun protett inti u l-professjonisti li se jkunu qed jassistuk.

Jekk ħadt it-tilqima kontra l-COVID-19 ħalli 7 ijiem jgħaddu qabel tersaq biex tagħti d-demm.

Din l-attività qed tittella’ miċ-Ċentru tal-Għoti tad-Demm b’kollaborazzjoni mas- Servizz Parlamentari u d-Dipartiment tas-Sigurtà Soċjali.

Ħarġa Nru 25/Issue No. 25 3 Daħla Diċembru 2020/December 2020 Foreword

4 Attivitajiet tal-Parlament Parliamentary Activities Ippubblikat mill‑Uffiċċju tal‑Ispeaker Published by the Office of the Speaker 12 Il-Kumitat Permanenti Għall-Affarijiet ta’ Għawdex Bord Editorjali The Standing Committee on Gozo Affairs Editorial Board 14 Attivitajiet Internazzjonali Ray Scicluna International Activities Josanne Paris 16 Il-Kuxjenza u l-Membri Parlamentari Maltin Ancel Farrugia Migneco Conscience and the Maltese Members of Parliament Eleanor Scerri Eric Frendo 32 L-Elezzjonijiet F’Malta ta’ qabel l-Indipendenza 1836-1962 Elections in Pre-Independence Malta 1836-1962 Indirizz Postali Postal Address House of Representatives Freedom Square Valletta VLT 1115 Malta Qoxra: Pjazza Ħelsien 2020 +356 2559 6000 Cover: Freedom Square 2020

www.parlament.mt [email protected] Ritratti/Photos: ISSN 2308‑538X Parlament ta’ Malta/DOI ISSN (online) 2308‑6637

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Daħla Foreword

F’din il-25 ħarġa tal-pubblikazzjoni mill-Parlament In this 25th issue of mill-Parlament I am pleased to say ngħid b’sodisfazzjon illi għalkemm għadna għaddejjin that although we are still going through the period of mill-perjodu tal-pandemija, ix-xogħol tal-Parlament pandemic, Parliament’s work has not been hindered, mhux talli ma ġiex ostakolat talli aħna l-uniku pajjiż so much so that we are the only country from across mill-pajjiżi kollha tal-Unjoni Ewropea li l-Parlament the European Union whose Parliament has continued tiegħu baqa’ għaddej u ma kellu l-ebda interruzzjoni, la functioning uninterrupted, that is both the Plenary fis-seduti tal-Plenarja u lanqas fil-laqgħat tal-kumitati. sittings and the committee meetings. In fact, since the Infatti, mill-aħħar ħarġa ta’ dan il-perjodiku, kellna 59 last issue of this periodical, there have been another 59 seduta oħra tal-Plenarja u aktar minn 79 laqgħa tal- plenary sessions and more than 79 standing committee kumitati Permanenti. - Ix xogħol tal-Parlament mhux meetings. The work of Parliament has anything but talli ma naqasx, talli kellna rekord ta’ 27 mozzjoni slowed down. There have been a record of 27 motions mressqa għall-Ewwel Qari, u 34 liġi li għaddiet mill- tabled for First Reading, and 34 laws passed through istadji kollha u saru Att, saru kważi 3,000 Mistoqsija all stages and became Acts of Parliament, almost Parlamentari, deċiżjonijiet tas-Sedja, ċjoè rulings, 3,000 Parliamentary Questions were made, there ngħataw tlieta importanti, u kellna aktar minn 600 were three important rulings delivered by the Chair, dokument li tqiegħdu fuq il-Mejda tal-Kamra. and over 600 documents were tabled in the House. Aktar minn hekk, il-konferenzi interparlamentari Moreover, all inter-parliamentary conferences have kollha ġew onorati. Tmienja minnhom involvew il- been honored. Eight of them involved the participation parteċipazzjoni tas-Sedja, inkluż il-British Isles and of the Speaker, including the British Isles and Mediterranean Region (BIMR) Conference fi ħdan Mediterranean Region (BIMR) Conference within the il-Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, li ġiet Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, which was organizzata mill-Parlament Malti b’mod virtwali. organized virtually by the Maltese Parliament. We had Kellna laqgħat tal-Parliamentary Intelligence- meetings of the Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Security Forum, organizzati mill-Kungress Amerikan Forum, organized by the US Congress on May 14 and fl-14 ta’ Mejju u fl-4 ta’ Awwissu. Il-Konferenza August 4. The two-day World Conference of Speakers Dinjija tal-Ispeakers li nżammet fuq jumejn ukoll was also honored. Of course, they were all held virtually. ġiet onorata. Ovvjament dawn kollha nżammu The same goes for the Inter-Parliamentary Union b’mod virtwali. L-istess bħall-konferenza tal-Inter- (IPU) conference held on 17 September and another Parliamentary Union (IPU) li kienet organizzata fis-17 conference on the security of European countries vis- ta’ Settembru u konferenza oħra dwar is-sigurtà tal- à-vis China on 29 November. A meeting organized by pajjiżi Ewropej vis-à-vis iċ-Ċina fid-29 ta’ Novembru. the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Fil-25 ta’ Novembru saret laqgħa organizzata mill- was held on 25 November and on 8 December there Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) u was another meeting with the US Congress of the fit-8 ta’ Diċembru kellna laqgħa oħra mal-Kungress Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum on the role Amerikan tal-Parliamentary Intelligence-Security of national parliaments with regard to cybersecurity. I Forum dwar ir-rwol tal-parlamenti nazzjonali f’dak li am saying this with satisfaction because it shows the huwa cybersecurity. Qiegħed ngħid dan b’sodisfazzjon way in which the Maltese Parliament is organized, għaliex dan juri l-mod kif il-Parlament Malti huwa both from an administrative point of view and in organizzat, kemm mill-aspett amministrattiv kif ukoll terms of participation from both sides of the House. fejn tidħol parteċipazzjoni miż-żewġ naħat tal-Kamra. In this issue we find an interesting article presenting F’din il-ħarġa nsibu artiklu interessanti li jippreżenta the result of the work and research done by r-riżultat tax-xogħol u r-riċerka li saret minn Dr Mario Dr Mario Thomas Vassallo on the use of the Thomas Vassallo dwar il-vot tal-kuxjenza min-naħa vote of conscience by Members of Parliament. tal-Membri Parlamentari. I would like to take this opportunity to once again Nieħu l-okkażjoni biex għal darb’oħra nirringrazzja lill- thank Professor George Cassar for his regular Professur George Cassar għall-kontribuzzjoni regolari contribution. This time we have an interesting article tiegħu. Din id-darba għandna artiklu interessanti dwar about the elections in Malta before Independence. l-elezzjonijiet f’Malta qabel l-Indipendenza. Anġlu Farrugia Speaker

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Attivitajiet tal-Parlament

NSTF Mini-European Assembly 2020

L-Ispeaker tal-Kamra tad-Deputati, l-Onor. Anġlu Farrugia ppresieda s-sessjoni finali tal-Mini-European Assembly 2020, organizzata min-National Student Travel Foundation (NSTF), li nżammet fil-Parlament ta’ Malta fil-11 ta’ Awwissu.

Mindu twaqqfet fl-1977 l-NSTF għenet bosta studenti Maltin u barranin permezz ta’ inizjattivi edukattivi intiżi li jagħtuhom esperjenza utli għall-ħajja, b’opportunitajiet ta’ laqgħat lokali jew f’pajjiżi oħra fejn huma jkunu jistgħu jaqsmu l-ideat tagħhom u jieħdu azzjoni fuq temi ta’ interess komuni. Dan jgħin lill-istudenti jagħrfu l-importanza tas-solidarjetà umana u jseddaq l-impenn tagħhom favur rabtiet ta’ ħbiberija fost il-ġnus.

It-tema ewlenija diskussa f’din l-edizzjoni tal-Mini-European Assembly kienet l-immigrazzjoni illegali. L-Ispeaker fisser id-determinazzjoni ta’ kull individwu li jkun lest li jagħmel kollox meta jkun iffaċċjat b’sitwazzjoni iebsa jew theddida għall-għajxien tiegħu. Hu tenna li l-gvernijiet huma obbligati li jissalvagwardjaw id-dinjità ta’ kull persuna, irrispettivament minn fejn ikunu ġejjin.

Filwaqt li tenna l-obbligu tal-komunità internazzjonali li tħares u tagħti kenn lill-immigranti minn persekuzzjoni, ġenoċidju, trattament diskriminatorju u tkasbir tad-drittijiet u libertajiet fundamentali tal-individwu, l-Ispeaker saħaq fuq il-bżonn li din il-kriżi umanitarja tkun trattata b’mod mill-aktar wiesa’ f’kuntest ta’ politika favur l-iżvilupp uman u li tippromwovi s-sliem u l-paċi fost il-ġnus.

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Parliamentary Activities

NSTF Mini-European Assembly 2020

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Anġlu Farrugia, presided over the final session of the Mini- European Assembly 2020, held in Parliament by the National Student Travel Foundation (NSTF) on 11 August.

Since it was established in 1977 NSTF has helped many Maltese and foreign students by way of educational initiatives meant to give them valid life experiences, including opportunities to meet both locally and abroad to share their ideas and act on issues of common interest. This helps students understand the importance of human solidarity, and foster their commitment in favour of friendship among nations.

The main theme discussed in this edition of the Mini-European Assembly was illegal immigration. The Speaker spoke about the individual’s determination to do whatever necessary when faced with difficult situations that may threaten his very livelihood. He said that governments are obliged to safeguard each person’s dignity, irrespective of their origin.

The Speaker reiterated that the international community is dutybound to protect migrants from persecution, genocide, discriminatory treatment and the violation of the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual. He also stressed the need to deal with this humanitarian crisis in the wider context of a pro-human development policy that promotes peace and tranquillity among nations.

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Attivitajiet tal-Parlament (Kont.)

Il-Parlament tan-Nanniet 2020

Fit-23 ta’ Settembru l-Ispeaker Anġlu Farrugia mexxa l-edizzjoni tal-2020 tal-Parlament tan-Nanniet, bit-tema ‘In-Nanniet u r-Realtà Attwali’.

L-Ispeaker fakkar lin-nanniet li r-responsabbiltà tat-trobbija tal-ulied hi primarjament tal-ġenituri stess. Dan ifisser li l-kollaborazzjoni bejn in-nanniet u wliedhom hi msejsa fuq l-imħabba naturali tal-ġenituri lejn uliedhom. Hu saħaq ukoll fuq id-dover tal-Istat li jħares il-ħajja umana, inkluż it-tfal u -t trabi li jkunu għadhom fil-ġuf.

L-Ispeaker tkellem ukoll dwar id-dritt li qed jitolbu n-nanniet, ċjoè li jitħallew jiltaqgħu man-neputijiet tagħhom fejn ikun hemm sitwazzjonijiet ta’ separazzjonijiet. Huwa tenna illi kulħadd għandu jkun responsabbli ta’ għemilu u li t-tfal m’għandhom qatt jintużaw bħala ballun f’logħba ta’ pika.

L-Onor. Farrugia rringrazzja lill-istituzzjonijiet u lill-aġenziji tal-Istat u tal-Knisja impenjati fil-qasam tas-solidarjetà soċjali. Maż-żmien, din il-kollaborazzjoni ssarrfet f’ħidma fejjieda favur l-anzjani u persuni oħra vulnerabbli, speċjalment meta pajjiżna ntlaqat mill-imxija tal-COVID-19. Huwa rringrazzja wkoll lill-ħaddiema tas-servizz tas- saħħa u lil dawk li jieħdu ħsieb l-anzjani, tas-servizzi essenzjali li jagħtu. Huwa wera wkoll l-apprezzament tiegħu għall-ħidma tal-għaqdiet volontarji u filantropiċi.

L-Ispeaker għalaq id-diskors tiegħu billi rringrazzja lill-anzjani kollha li hekk kif faqqgħet il-pandemija għamlu sagrifiċċju u baqgħu ġewwa fi djarhom, filwaqt li ħeġġiġhom ikomplu jagħmlu danfl-interess tagħhom, ta’ wliedhom u tan-neputijiet tagħhom.

Matul din is-sessjoni tal-Parlament tan-Nanniet ħadu sehem ukoll il-President Emeritu Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, Chairperson tal-Fondazzjoni ta’ Malta għall-Ġid tas-Soċjetà, is-Sur Philip Chircop, President-Fundatur tal-Fondazzjoni Nanniet Malta, Dott. John Cachia, Kummissarju għas-Saħħa Mentali, is-Sur Matthew Bartolo, Konsulent u Psikoterapista, Dott. Rachael Scicluna, Antropologa, l-Onor. Silvio Parnis, Segretarju Parlamentari għall-Anzjanità Attiva u l-Persuni b’Diżabilità, kif ukoll il-Membri Parlamentari l-Onor. David Agius, l-Onor. Maria Deguara u l-Onor. Jean Claude Micallef.

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Parliamentary Activities (Cont.)

Parliament for Grandparents 2020

On 23 September Speaker Anġlu Farrugia chaired the 2020 edition of the Grandparents’ Parliament, which focused on the theme ‘Grandparents and the Current Reality’.

The Speaker reminded grandparents that the responsibility for raising children lies primarily with the parents themselves. This means that the collaboration between grandparents and their children is based on the natural love of parents towards their children. He also emphasised the duty of the State to protect human life, including children and unborn babies.

The Speaker also spoke about the right that grandparents are demanding, to be allowed to meet their grandchildren when the parents are separating. He reiterated that everyone should be responsible for their own actions and that children should never be used as a bargaining chip.

Hon. Farrugia thanked the State and Church institutions and agencies that are committed in the field of social solidarity. Over time, this collaboration has resulted in considerable work being done for the elderly and other vulnerable people, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. He also thanked health workers and carers of elderly persons for the essential services they provide, whilst expressing his appreciation for the work of voluntary and philanthropic organisations.

The Speaker concluded his intervention by thanking all those elderly persons, who, at the start of the pandemic, made sacrifices and stayed at home. He encouraged them to continue doing so in their own interest and in the interest of their children and grandchildren.

President Emeritus Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, Chairperson of the Malta Foundation for the Well-being of Society, Mr Philip Chircop, Founding President of the Nanniet Malta Foundation, Dr John Cachia, Commissioner for Mental Health, Mr Matthew Bartolo, Counsellor and Psychotherapist, Dr Rachael Scicluna, Anthropologist, Hon. Silvio Parnis, Parliamentary Secretary for Active Aging and People with Disabilities, as well as Members of Parliament Hon. David Agius, Hon. Maria Deguara and Hon. Jean Claude Micallef also participated in this year’s session of the Parliament for Grandparents.

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Attivitajiet tal-Parlament (Kont.)

Membri ġodda fil-Kamra tad-Deputati Erba’ Membri Parlamentari ġodda ngħataw il-ġurament tal-ħatra fit-tieni nofs tal-2020.

Fis-6 ta’ Ottubru l-Kamra rrisolviet li l-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni l-ġdid Dr Bernard Grech ikunu co-opted sabiex jimla s-siġġu li tbattal mis-Sur Ivan J. Bartolo fid-Disa’ Distrett.

Fis-seduta tad-19 ta’ Ottubru, mozzjoni ta’co-option tressqet sabiex jimtlew is-siġġijiet li tbattlu minn Dr Joseph Muscat u Dr Etienne Grech fit-Tieni u r-Raba’ Distretti Elettorali rispettivament. Il-Kamra rrisolviet li Dr Clyde Caruana u Dr Miriam Dalli jimlew dawn is-siġġijiet batttala.

Is-siġġu li tbattal fit-Tlettax-il Distrett Elettorali wara li ġie nieqes l-Onor. Frederick Azzopardi fis-17 ta’ Ottubru mtela fis-seduta tas-6 ta’ Novembru minn Dr Joseph Ellis li kien elett f’elezzjoni każwali sabiex jimtela s-siġġu battal.

Parlament Nazzjonali taż-Żgħażagħ 2020

Fl-14 ta’ Novembru ttellgħet -l edizzjoni tal-2020 tal-Parlament Nazzjonali taż-Żgħażagħ. Minħabba l-pandemija tal-Covid-19, is-sessjoni li ta’ kull sena ssir fil-Parlament inżammet b’mod virtwali. F’din is-sessjoni ġew diskussi erba’ temi ewlenin: l-immigrazzjoni, l-effetti tal-pandemija tal-Covid-19 fuq l-ekonomija, iżjed opportunitajiet għaż-żgħażagħ fl-oqsma tal-isport u l-arti, kif ukoll il-parteċipazzjoni taż-żgħażagħ fil-politika.

Fid-diskors tiegħu, l-Onor. Clifton Grima, Segretarju Parlamentari għaż-Żgħażagħ, l-Isport u l-Volontarjat, ħabbar li qed jiġi mġedded iż-żmien tal-konsultazzjoni pubblika għall-Politika Nazzjonali dwar iż-Żgħażagħ sabiex jintlaħqu iżjed żgħażagħ u sabiex l-eżitu tal-punti diskussi fil-Parlament Nazzjonali taż-Żgħażagħ ikunu jistgħu jiġu kkunsidrati meta tkun qed tiġi mfassla l-Politika Nazzjonali taż-Żgħażagħ. Qal ukoll li din hija politika bbażata u mibnija fuq is-suċċessi miksuba fl-aħħar ħames snin filwaqt li tiffoka fuq l-isfidi u l-opportunitajiet li ġejjin. Fl- aħħar nett l-Onor. Grima awgura liż-żgħażagħ għall-edizzjoni ta’ din is-sena u wera s-sodisfazzjon tiegħu għall- fatt li kien hemm numru ta’ żgħażagħ li baqgħu għaddejjin bix-xogħol tagħhom fuq din il-politika nazzjonali.

Il-President tal-Kunsill Nazzjonali taż-Żgħażagħ Chiara Vassallo fakkret kemm kien hemm proposti ppreżentati waqt il-Parlament Nazzjonali taż-Żgħażagħ matul is-snin li ġew implimentati, bħall-Vot Sittax u d-Dikjarazzjoni ta’ Emerġenza tal-Klima. Hija saħqet li ż-żgħażagħ m’għandhom iħallu lil xejn u ħadd iwaqqafhom milli jsemmgħu leħinhom, lanqas pandemija bħal dik li għaddejjin minnha.

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Parliamentary Activities (Cont.)

New Members to the House of Representatives

Four new Members of Parliament were sworn in in the second half of 2020.

On 6 October, the House resolved to co-opt new Leader of the Opposition Dr Bernard Grech to take up the seat in the Ninth Electoral District vacated by Mr Ivan J. Bartolo.

During the sitting of 19 October, a co-option motion was tabled to fill the seats vacated by Dr Joseph Muscat and by Dr Etienne Grech, in the Second and Fourth Electoral Districts respectively. The House resolved that Mr Clyde Caruana and Dr Miriam Dalli fill the said vacant seats.

The seat vacated in the Thirteenth District following the passing of Hon. Frederick Azzopardi on 17 October, was filled during the parliamentary sitting of 6 November by Dr Joseph Ellis who was elected in a casual election to fill the vacant seat. National Youth Parliament 2020

The 2020 edition of the National Youth Parliament was held on 14 November. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the annual session usually held in Parliament was organised online. Four key topics were discussed in this session: immigration, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy, more opportunities for young people in the fields of sport and the arts, as well as the participation of young people in politics.

In his speech, Hon. Clifton Grima, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Sports and Voluntary Organisations, announced that the consultation period for the National Youth Policy was being extended in order to reach more young people and so that the outcome of the discussions taking place in the National Youth Parliament could be taken into account when drafting the National Youth Policy. He also said that this policy is based and built on the successes achieved in the last five years whilst also focusing on the upcoming challenges and opportunities. In conclusion, Hon. Grima congratulated the young people for this year’s edition and expressed his satisfaction that there were a number of young people who were taking forward the work on the national policy.

Chiara Vassallo, President of the National Youth Council, recalled the number of proposals presented during past events of the National Youth Parliament and which were implemented, such as Vote-16 and the Declaration on Climate Emergency. She said that young people should not let anything or anyone stop them from making their voices heard, not even a pandemic like the current one.

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Attivitajiet tal-Parlament (Kont.)

Tifkira tal-Onor. Frederick Azzopardi

Fis-seduti parlamentari tad-19 u t-22 ta’ Ottubru l-Ispeaker Anġlu Farrugia flimkien ma’ numru ta’ membri parlamentari fakkru l-memorja tal-Onor. Frederick Azzopardi li ġie nieqes fis-17 ta’ Ottubru.

L-Ispeaker qal li kien ilu jaf lill-Onor. Azzopardi minn qabel ma daħal fil-Parlament u minn dejjem jafu bħala ġentlom, persuna li jagħmel kollox għall-familja, u bniedem rispettat minn kulħadd. Huwa semma kif l-Onor. Azzopardi kien persuna li ta eżempju ta’ kif tista’ tiddibatti b’mod li tibqa’ tirrispetta anke lil min ma taqbilx miegħu. Il-membri parlamentari li tkellmu kkonfermaw kemm l-Onor. Azzopardi kien raġel kbir fl-umiltà tiegħu, dejjem b’daħqa ġenwina u manjieri ġentili, li bihom kien iressaq lil kulħadd viċin ta’ xulxin anki f’mumenti ta’ diskord. Intqal li l-Onor. Azzopardi kellu kapaċità li ftit politiċi għandhom: li mingħajr ma taf kif, iġiegħlek tiftiehem miegħu. Huwa kien magħruf għal din il-kapaċità mhux biss f’pajjiżna iżda wkoll mal-komunità internazzjonali tal- Assemblea Parlamentari tal-OSCE, fejn kien ilu membru għal ħafna snin, u kien magħruf sew u rispettat.

Matul dawn is-seduti, numru ta’ membri parlamentari, filwaqt li għaddew il-kondoljanzi tagħhom lill-familja tal-Onor. Frederick Azzopardi - lil martu, uliedu u n-neputijiet- li kienu preżenti, irringrazzjawhom talli silfuh lin- nazzjon biex jagħti servizz, liema servizz l-Onor. Azzopardi dejjem tah b’mod onest, diliġenti u mill-qalb.

L-Ispeaker temm jgħid li l-Onor. Frederick Azzopardi kien persuna li dejjem ferraħ lil ta’ madwaru, kien raġel ma’ kulħadd, u kien jagħmel minn kollox biex iwettaq dmiru u jaqdi lil dak li jkun. Baqa’ hekk sal-aħħar.

Bħalma hija l-konswetudni meta jiġu nieqsa Membri Parlamentari preżenti jew passati, il-Parlament ħejja ktejjeb biex ifakkar lill-Onor. Frederick Azzopardi u x-xogħol li għamel fil-Parlament meta huwa kien Membru bejn Settembru 1998 u Ottubru 2020, li jinkludi l-ewwel diskors li huwa għamel fis-seduta tas-17 ta’ Diċembru 1998.

Fost dawk li tkellmu waqt din il-kommemorazzjoni nsibu lill-Prim Ministru Robert Abela, il-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni Bernard Grech, l-Onor. David Agius, l-Onor. Adrian Delia, l-Onor. Kevin Cutajar, l-Onor. Chris Said u l-Onor. Chris Fearne.

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Parliamentary Activities (Cont.)

Commemoration of Hon. Frederick Azzopardi

In the parliamentary sittings of 19 and 22 October Speaker Anġlu Farrugia, together with a number of members of parliament, recalled the memory of Hon. Frederick Azzopardi who passed away on 17 October.

The Speaker said that he had known Hon. Azzopardi since before he was elected to Parliament and had always known him to be a gentleman, a person who would do anything for his family, and a man respected by all. He mentioned how Hon. Azzopardi used to set an example of how one can debate in a respectful manner even with those who you disagree with. Those members of parliament who spoke echoed these sentiments and said that in his humility Hon. Azzopardi was a great man, and that his genuine smile and gentle manners brought people close to each other even in moments of discord. It was said that Hon. Azzopardi had a talent that few politicians possess: that of coming to an agreement with him without even realising. This was a quality for which he was known not only locally, but also in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly international community, where he was well-known and respected.

During these sittings, several members of parliament expressed their condolences to Hon. Frederick Azzopardi’s family: his wife, his children and his grandchildren who were present. They also thanked them for lending him so that he could offer his service to the nation, which service was always offered honestly, diligently and from the heart.

The Speaker concluded by saying that Hon. Frederick Azzopardi was a person who always brought joy to those around him. He always behaved like a true gentleman and did his best to do his duty and serve those who asked for his help. He was like this until the end.

As is customary when a sitting or former member of parliament passes away, a booklet to honour Hon. Frederick Azzopardi and his work as a member of parliament between September 1998 and October 2020, including his first speech during the sitting of 17 December 1998, was prepared.

A number of members of parliament spoke during this commemoration, among them the Prime Minister Robert Abela, the Leader of the Opposition Bernard Grech, Hon. David Agius, Hon. Adrian Delia, Hon. Kevin Cutajar, Hon. Chris Said and Hon. Chris Fearne.

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Il-Kumitat Permanenti Għall-Affarijiet ta’ Għawdex

Il-Kumitat Permanenti għall-Affarijiet ta’ Għawdex ġie mwaqqaf fil-5 ta’ Mejju 2020 bis-saħħa tal-mozzjonijiet 353 u 354 li għaddew ukoll b’mod unanimu fis-seduta 322 tat-8 ta’ April 2020. Ir-rwol ta’ dan il-Kumitat huwa li jittratta l-materji kollha marbuta ma’ Għawdex u li jevalwa, janalizza u jivverifika - l leġiżlazzjoni li tirrigwarda jew tolqot b'xi mod l-affarijiet ta' Għawdex. Dan il-Kumitat huwa magħmul mill-Membri Parlamentari Għawdxin: l-Onor. Clint Camilleri, Ministru għal Għawdex, l-Onor. Justyne Caruana, Ministru għall- Edukazzjoni, l-Onor. Anton Refalo. Ministru għall-Agrikultura, Sajd, l-Ikel u d-Drittijiet tal-Annimali min-naħa tal-Gvern u l-Onor. Kevin Cutajar u l-Onor. Chris Said u l-Onor. Joseph Ellis, bħala membru sostitut, minflok il- membru sostitut l-Onor. Frederick Azzopardi li ġie nieqes fis-17 ta’ Ottubru 2020, min-naħa tal-Oppożizzjoni.

Mindu twaqqaf il-Kumitat, ippresedut mill-Onor. Justyne Caruana, saru sensiela ta’ tlettax-il laqgħa li fil-maġġor parti tagħhom ġie diskuss l-impatt tal-COVID-19 fuq Għawdex u t-triq ’il quddiem fejn ġew mistiedna diversi entitajiet u stakeholders sabiex ikunu jistgħu jiġu diskussi u indirizzati d-diversi nuqqasijiet f’diversi oqsma li għalkemm uħud minnhom kienu jeżistu diġà qabel il-pandemija, dawn batew aktar bl-imxija tal-COVID-19.

Wara l-ewwel disa’ laqgħat fuq is-suġġett ġie mressaq rapport minn dan il-Kumitat b’numru ta’ rakkomandazzjonijiet dwar x’jista’ jsir sabiex id-diffikultajiet li qiegħed jaffaċċja Għawdex jiġu megħluba. Dan ir-rapport tpoġġa fuq il-Mejda tal-Kamra tad-Deputati kif ukoll ġie ċċirkolat lill-entitajiet kollha li ħadu sehem fid-diskussjonijiet sabiex ir-rakkomandazzjonijiet jiġu attwati. B’mod formali wkoll, il-Kumitat ippreżenta dan ir- rapport lill-Ministru għall-Finanzi u Servizzi Finanzjarji sabiex jiġi kkunsidrat waqt il-formulazzjoni tal-Budget 2021.

Għall-ewwel darba wkoll, bl-approvazzjoni tal-Ispeaker tal-Kamra tad-Deputati u bil-għajnuna tal-Ministru għall- Ekonomija, Investiment u Negozji Żgħar u l-Ministeru għal Għawdex, il-Kumitat Permanenti għall-Affarijiet ta’ Għawdex ġie mlaqqa’ darbtejn ġewwa l-Gozo Innovation Hub f’Għawdex fejn kompla jiġi diskuss l-impatt tal- COVID-19 fuq Għawdex u t-triq ‘il quddiem, kif ukoll bdew id-diskussjonijiet fir-rigward tal-Learning Support Assistants Għawdxin.

F’Lulju l-Kumitat iddiskuta wkoll il-Fondi tal-Unjoni Ewropea u l-Istate Aid fil-kuntest tal-ekonomija Għawdxija.

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

The Standing Committee on Gozo Affairs

The Standing Committee on Gozo Affairs was set up on 5 May 2020 by virtue of motions 353 and 354 which were also adopted unanimously during Sitting 322 of 8 April 2020. The role of this Committee is to deal with all matters relating to Gozo and to evaluate, analyse and scrutinise legislation concerning or affecting the affairs of Gozo in any way. This Committee is made up of the Gozitan Members of Parliament: Hon. Clint Camilleri, Minister for Gozo, Hon. Justyne Caruana, Minister for Education, Hon. Anton Refalo, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Animal Rights on behalf of the Government and Hon. Kevin Cutajar and Hon. Chris Said and Hon. Joseph Ellis, as substitute member, replacing Hon. Frederick Azzopardi who passed away on 17 October 2020, from the Opposition.

Since the setting up of the Committee, chaired by the Hon. Justyne Caruana, a series of thirteen meetings were held, the majority of which discussed the impact of COVID-19 in Gozo and the way forward, where various entities and stakeholders were invited to address and discuss the various shortcomings in various areas, which, although some of them were there already before the pandemic, they worsened with the spread of COVID-19.

After the first nine meetings on the subject, a report was submitted by this Committee with anumberof recommendations on what can be done to overcome the difficulties that Gozo is facing. This report was tabled in the House of Representatives and was circulated to all the entities who took part in the discussions in order to implement the recommendations. Also formally, the Committee presented this report to the Minister for Finance and Financial Services to be considered during the formulation of the 2021 Budget.

Also for the first time, with the approval of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and with the help of the Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business and the Ministry for Gozo, the Standing Committee for Gozo Affairs was convened twice at the Gozo Innovation Hub in Gozo where the impact of COVID-19 on Gozo and the way forward was further discussed, and discussions regarding Gozitan Learning Support Assistants were launched.

In July, the Committee also discussed European Union Funds and State Aid in the context of the Gozitan economy.

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Attivitajiet Internazzjonali

Id-49 Konferenza Reġjonali tal-Gżejjer Brittaniċi u l-Mediterran tal-Assoċjazzjoni Parlamentari tal-Commonwealth

Iktar minn ħamsin membru parlamentari minn aktar minn tlettax-il pajjiż u territorju tal-Commonwealth ingħaqdu għall-ewwel konferenza virtwali biex jiddiskutu r-rispons tal-Parlamenti fi żminijiet ta' kriżi b'enfasi speċjali fuq il-pandemija attwali tal-COVID-19. Id-49 Konferenza Reġjonali tal-Gżejjer Brittaniċi u -l Mediterran (BIM) tal-Assoċjazzjoni Parlamentari tal-Commonwealth (CPA), kienet organizzata mill-Parlament ta’ Malta, li jikkostitwixxi l-fergħa Maltija tas-CPA, b’laqgħa virtwali mill-24 sal-25 ta’ Settembru 2020. Id-delegazzjoni Maltija għal din il-Konferenza mmexxija mill-Ispeaker Anġlu Farrugia kienet magħmula mid-Deputat Speaker Onor. Claudette Buttigieg -u r rappreżentanta Maltija tal-Parlamentari Nisa tal-Commonwealth tal-istess reġjun l-Onor. Justyne Caruana.

Il-konferenza reġjonali nfetħet mill-Ispeaker tal-Kamra tad-Deputati tal-Parlament ta’ Malta l-Onor. Anġlu Farrugia. Huwa tkellem dwar il-ħtieġa li l-Parlamenti u l-Parlamentari jitgħallmu minn xulxin f’dawn iż-żminijiet ta’ sfida għall-ġurisdizzjonijiet kollha. L-Ispeaker enfasizza l-importanza li l-Parlamenti jirreaġixxu għall-kriżi attwali li ġiet fuqna minħabba l-pandemija tal- COVID-19 u din l-istess sitwazzjoni li ma kenitx mistennija tatna opportunità biex nerġgħu naħsbu kif l-aħjar jopera Parlament. Il-kriżi globali attwali tat spunt biex aħna nirrikorru lejn l-innovazzjoni teknoloġika u nadattawha għall-proċeduri tagħna bl-iskop li l-Parlament jibqa’ jopera. L-Ispeaker argumenta li l-leġiżlaturi u dawk li jfasslu l-politika għandhom il-kompitu li jsibu l-bilanċ delikat bejn is-salvagwardja tas-saħħa taċ-ċittadini u l-ekonomija li ssostni lill-istess ċittanin. Minbarra -l kontroll tat-tixrid tal-virus, hemm bżonn urġenti għall-komunità internazzjonali biex tappoġġja pajjiżi vulnerabbli fl- iżvilupp u l-implimentazzjoni ta’ strateġiji biex jerġgħu jibdew jibnu l-ekonomiji tagħhom b’mod intelliġenti, u dan huwa qasam fejn l-Assoċjazzjoni Parlamentari tal-Commonwealth (CPA) tista’ tassew tagħti valur.

Il-Membri Parlamentari li ħadu sehem fil-Konferenza virtwali kienu qed jirrappreżentaw lis-CPA Branches ta’ Alderney, Ċipru, il-Gżejjer Falkland, Ġibiltà, Guernsey, l-Isle of Man, Jersey, Malta, l-Irlanda ta’ Fuq, l-Iskozja, St Helena, ir-Renju Unit u Wales. L-Ispeaker Farrugia rringrazzja lid-delegati kollha għall-interventi tagħhom u għall-kontribut li huma taw li għamel din l-ewwel konferenza interparlamentari virtwali tas-CPA suċċess. L-Ispeaker Farrugia żied li d-diskussjonijiet li saru matul is-sessjonijiet żgur li se jservu bħala bażi għal diskussjonijiet futuri dwar kif il-parlamenti jistgħu jadattaw u jsiru aktar reżiljenti biex jilqgħu għall-isfidi meta ffaċċati b’ċirkostanzi mhux previsti li jistgħu jkollhom impatt fuq il-kapaċità tagħhom li jiffunzjonaw b'mod effettiv.

Il-50 Konferenza reġjonali hija skedata li titlaqqa’ mill-fergħa tal-Irlanda ta’ Fuq, fl-2021.

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

International Activities

49th British Isles and Mediterranean Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Over fifty Parliamentarians from more than thirteen Commonwealth countries and territories have joined the first full virtual conference to discuss the response of Parliaments in times of crisis with a special focus on the current COVID-19 pandemic. The 49th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) British Islands and Mediterranean (BIM) Regional Conference, was hosted by the Parliament of Malta and CPA Malta Branch and took the form of a virtual meeting from 24 to 25 September 2020. The Maltese delegation to this Conference led by Speaker Anġlu Farrugia comprised Deputy Speaker Hon. Claudette Buttigieg and Maltese BIMR Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians representative Hon. Justyne Caruana.

The regional conference was opened by the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of Malta Hon. Anġlu Farrugia. He spoke of the need for Parliaments and Parliamentarians to learn from each other in these challenging times for all jurisdictions. The Speaker highlighted the importance that Parliaments react to the current crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and how this totally unexpected situation presented us with an opportunity to rethink how a Parliaments could best operate. The current global crisis prompted us to turn to technological innovations and adopt them in our procedures so that Parliament could continue to operate. The Speaker argued that legislators and policy-makers are tasked with finding the very delicate balance between safeguarding the health of the citizens and the economy that support the same citizens. In addition to controlling the spread of the virus, there is an urgent need for the international community to support vulnerable countries in developing and implementing strategies for restarting their economies in a smart way, noting that this is where the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) can truly deliver value.

The Members of Parliament who took part in the on-line Conference hailed from the CPA Branches of Alderney, Cyprus, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Malta, Northern Ireland, Scotland, St Helena, the UK and Wales. In his concluding remarks Speaker Farrugia thanked all the delegates for their contributions and for making this first fully virtual inter-parliamentary CPA conference hosted by the Maltese Parliament a success. He added that the discussions held during the sessions will surely serve as a basis for future discussions on how parliaments can adapt and become more resilient when faced with unforeseen circumstances which can materially impact on their ability to function effectively.

The 50th BIMR Conference is scheduled to be hosted by the Northern Ireland branch of the BIMR in 2021.

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Il-Kuxjenza u l-Membri Parlamentari Maltin

minn Dr Mario Thomas Vassallo

X’inhi l-kuxjenza? Liema huma dawk l-ingredjenti li jgħaġnuha? Il-kuxjenza hija assoluta jew relattiva? U l-kuxjenza timmatura mal-bniedem innifsu jew inkella hija fissa għax ma tinbidilx. F’din il-kitba se nkunu qegħdin nipprovaw inwieġbu għal dawn il-mistoqsijiet billi naraw kif jaħsbuha għadd ta’ eks parlamentari Maltin. It- tema tal-kuxjenza fil-politika kemm-il darba ġiet mistħarrġa minn filosfi, moralisti u studjużi oħrajn, imma dan id-duwaliżmu ftit jew xejn kien studjat fl-arena politika Maltija. F’dan il-kuntest, din il-kitba se tkun qiegħda tinkwadra d-definizzjoni ta’ kuxjenza fl-isfond ta’ kif applikata fix-xjenza politika u l-ħidma parlamentari. Wara jkun imiss li jingħata tagħrif dwar il-metodoloġija mħaddma ta’ kif inġabret l-informazzjoni primarja. Il- perspettivi kuntrastanti tal-parlamentari Maltin huma miġjuba fl-aħħar taqsima ta’ din il-kitba li tinkwadra wkoll ir-riflessjonijiet konklussivi.

Mil-letteratura internazzjonali

Fid-Dikjarazzjoni Universali tad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem insibu żewġ stqarrijiet interessanti. L-ewwel hija dik li kull bniedem jitwieled ħieles u mogħni bid-dinjità tiegħu, inklużi wkoll ir-raġuni u l-kuxjenza li jgħinuh jgħix fis- soċjetà. It-tieni stqarrija torbot ma’ tal-ewwel: kull bniedem għandu jgawdi mil-libertà tal-ħsieb u tal-kuxjenza, kemm fuq bażi individwali u kif ukoll fuq livell komunitarju (United Nation 1948). Kif jgħid DeBattista (2020), il- libertà li wieħed jaġixxi skont il-kuxjenza, għalhekk, mhux dritt riżervat għall-ħajja privata biss, imma dritt li jista’ jkun eżerċitat ukoll fil-ħajja pubblika.

Hawn ħafna li ppruvaw jagħtu definizzjoni ta’ kuxjenza. Hawn min wasal għal dan permezz ta’ argumenti razzjonali, waqt li oħrajn irrikorrew għar-reliġjon biex jagħtu t-tifsira tagħhom. Fl-era klassika nsibu lil Aristotli li fix-xogħol tiegħu,Ta Ethika, huwa jikkonkludi li l-istudju u l-prattika tal-etika jsibu l-għeruq tagħhom fil-ġudizzju morali. Għaldaqstant, l-etika hija intrinsikament magħġuna fil-linja li tifred lit-tajjeb mill-ħażin. Kien l-appostlu San Pawl li użu għall-ewwel darba l-idea ta’ kuxjenza bħala vuċi interjuri fil-bniedem li tgħinu jagħraf u jagħżel it- tajjeb (Pierce, 1958). San Tumas t’Akwinu bena fuq dan l-argument, imma saħaq ukoll li r-raġuni hija l-pedament ta’ kull azzjoni morali li jieħu l-bniedem. Min-naħa tiegħu l-Kardinal Newman ikkonkluda li l-kuxjenza hija intuwittiva għax tintgħaġen minn dak li jesperjenza l-bniedem u, fl-aħħar mill-aħħar, jiddeskriviha bħala ‘l-liġi tal-moħħ’ (Miller, 2014). Emanuel Kant u filosfi oħrajn tas-seklu XVIII irraġunaw li l-kuxjenza għandha tiġi fuq kull kunsiderazzjoni oħra; tant li għandha ssikket kull argument jew sentiment ieħor li jmur kontra l-kuxjenza (Scruton, 2007: 128). Dawn kienu jemmnu li dak il-bniedem li jħaddan moralità korretta għandu kull awtorità biex jaġixxi u jieħu deċiżjoni.

Fuq in-naħa l-oħra tal-munita, ma nisgħux inħallu barra lil Niccolo Machiavelli li fit-trattat politiku Rinaxximentali tiegħu il-Prinċep jgħid li biex il-politiku jikseb ġieħ u jsalva ġildu m’għandux jiddarras meta jiġi biex juża mezzi immorali biex jilħaq l-għanijiet tiegħu (Machiavelli, 2015). Fl-idea postmoderna ta’ żmienna ddominata mill- kredu neoliberali, l-idea ta’ kuxjenza sserraħ fuq l-għażliet tal-individwu, dejjem bl-iskop li jtejbulu l-kwalità tal-ħajja. Dawn l-għażliet jittieħdu skont iċ-ċirkostanzi, u għalhekk aktar jiffavorixxu l-politika pragmatika milli dik ideoloġika (Vassallo & Cachia, 2020). Għal dawn tal-aħħar, il-kuxjenza żgur li hija relattiva u mhux assoluta. Imwieżna minn xenarju politiku kkaratterizzat mill-popoliżmu li jikkalpesta kull forma ta’ elit, il-kuxjenza kontemporanja tbarri kull qafas ideoloġiku, reliġjuż u xjentifiku, għax jinteressaha biss mill-gratifikazzjoni istantanja tal-individwu. Dan huwa proċess li jwassal biex wieħed iraqqad il-kuxjenza vera tiegħu.

Meta japplika l-kuxjenza għall-ħajja tal-politiku, il-Professur Godfrey Pirotta jisħaq li hija l-lealtà lejn il-kuxjenza li ssuq lill-membru parlamentari ’l quddiem fl-għażliet tiegħu (Vassallo, 2021). Skontu, il-kuxjenza hija leħen is-sewwa u l-ġustizzja fil-qalb u l-moħħ ta’ kull persuna. Hija r-riga li tiddefinixxi x’inhu ħażin fuq naħa u x’inhu

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Il-Kuxjenza u l-Membri Parlamentari Maltin (Kont.)

tajjeb fuq in-naħa l-oħra. Bniedem rett li jemmen f’ideoloġija politika għandu jkun dejjem f’sintonija mal- kuxjenza tiegħu. Id-dilemma hija li xi minn daqqiet din il-lealtà lejn il-morali tal-individwu taf tkun f’kunflitt mal- lealtà lejn l-elettorat u/jew lejn il-partit. Din hija taħbila tassew diffiċli li ilha tkun dibattuta minn mindu bdejna nesperimentaw bl-idea ta’ demokrazija rappreżentattiva.

Pirotta donnu li qiegħed iserraħ il-lealtà tal-membru parlamentari fuq trepied: il-kuxjenza, l-elettorat u l-partit. Tal-ewwel tgħinu jagħmel distinzjoni bejn x’inhu tajjeb jew ħażin. Mill-banda l-oħra, il-kostitwenti għandu bżonnhom biex jikseb siġġu fil-Parlament, waqt li l-Partit jagħtih il-pjattaforma fuqxiex jikkandida ruħu. Il- politiku Ingliż Edmund Burke (1730-1797) kien wieħed minn tal-ewwel li tkellem b’mod elokwenti u aġixxa b’manjiera deċiżiva kull meta nħoloq kunflitt bejn -it tliet lealtajiet: lejn il-poplu, lejn il-partit u lejn il-kuxjenza (jew kif interpretaha hu ‘l-interess nazzjonali’). F’diskors memorabbli li għamel nhar it-3 ta’ Novembru tal-1774 lill-elettorat ta’ Bristol li eliġġieh, Burke spjega li hu, waqt li jirrispetta l-interessi u l-aspirazzjonijiet tal-votanti li għażluh biex jirrappreżentahom fil-Parlament, ma jħossx li hu obbligat li fi kwistjonijiet li jikkonċernaw l-interess nazzjonali jew il-moralità għandu jżomm max-xewqat tal-kostitwenza jekk dawn ikunu f’kunflitt. Is-silta li qiegħed nirriproduċi hawn, meħuda mid-diskors imsemmi, hija xhieda awtentika tal-fehma ta’ Edmund Burke, meqjus bħala missier il-konservatiżmu modern, dwar il-kunflitt bejn il-lealtà lejn il-poplu u l-lealtà lejn dak li huwa sewwa,

To deliver an opinion, is the right of all men; that of constituents is a weighty and respectable opinion, which a representative ought always to rejoice to hear; and which he ought always most seriously to consider. But authoritative instructions; mandates issued, which the member is bound blindly and implicitly to obey, to vote, and to argue for, though contrary to the clearest conviction of his judgment and conscience - these are things utterly unknown to the laws of this land, and which arise from a fundamental mistake of the whole order and tenor of our constitution. (Burke, 1774)

Huwa ssokta jistqarr li jekk imbagħad in-nies jibqgħu ma jaqblux miegħu, għandhom kull dritt u obbligu li ma jivvutawlux fl-elezzjoni li jkun imiss. B’danakollu, sakemm ir-rappreżentant tal-poplu jdum iservi fil-Parlament għandu, qabel kollox, ikun leali lejn kuxjenza nadifa u moralment tajba. Il-lealtà lejn l-elettorat, għal Burke, għandha tieħu -t tieni post fl-ordni ta’ prijorità. L-argument ta’ dan il-politiku tas-seklu 18 għadu b’saħħtu u relevanti llum ukoll, u min jaf kemm nisimgħuh jidwi fil-parlamenti ta’ żmienna kull meta deputat jiddeċiedi li ma jivvutax skont dak li trid id-dixxiplina tal-partit jew skont ix-xewqat tal-kostitwenti tiegħu li naturalment ikunu jxejru l-bandiera tal-partit. Vot parlamentari meħud b’lealtà lejn il-prinċipji morali tal-kuxjenza tal-individwu se jqajjem kontroversja dejjem, speċjalment jekk ma jsegwix il-linja tal-partit.

Ġaladarba tajna ħarsa ġenerali lejn id-diversi definizzjonijiet u implikazzjonijiet ta’ kuxjenza, u kif dawn iġġeddu mal-milja tas-sekli, issa jmiss li niddedikaw l-attenzjoni tagħna biex neżaminaw il-metodoloġija tar-riċerka li ġiet imħaddma f’dan l-istudju.

Il-metodoloġija

Qabel ma nbeda l-proċess formali tal-ġbir tal-informazzjoni, kien esegwit studju esploratorju fejn ġew mitkellma għadd ta’ akkademiċi biex hekk stajna nifhmu aħjar l-implikazzjonijiet teoretiċi u kuntestwali tas-suġġett. Eventwalment, ġiet iddisinjata metodoloġija li tagħmel użu kemm mill-kwantitattiv u kif ukoll mill-kwalitattiv. Tal-ewwel kellu jkun kompost minn kwestjonarju indirizzat għall-Membri Parlamentari (MP) li fil-preżent jinsabu jservu fil-Kamra tad-Deputati, waqt li tat-tieni jiġbor fih għadd ta’ intervisti semistrutturati ma’ eks MPs. Ġaladarba

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Il-Kuxjenza u l-Membri Parlamentari Maltin (Kont.)

kellna l-approvazzjoni tal-Uffiċċju tal-Ispeaker, l-MPs preżenti kollha ġew ippreżentati bil-kwestjonarju, waqt li avviċinajna lill-Assoċjazzjoni tal-Eks MPs biex tħajjar lill-membri tagħha jipparteċipaw fil-parti tal-intervisti.

Kienu biss 10 minn 67 MPs preżenti li mlew il-kwestjonarju; wieħed min-naħa tal-Gvern, tmienja min-naħa tal- Oppożizzjoni u ieħor li ma speċifikax. Dawn jammontaw għal rata baxxa ta’ rispons ta’ 14.9%. Ebda statistika sinifikattiva ma tista’ tiġi maħduma u ppreżentata minn rispons daqstant żgħir. Għaldaqstant, il-ġabra tal- informazzjoni primarja kienet riżervata unikament fuq intervisti ma’ MPs li servew fil-passat. Għoxrin eks MP aċċettaw l-istedina; għaxra mill-Partit Laburista (PL) u għaxra mill-Partit Nazzjonalista. L-intervisti saru bejn Mejju u Ġunju 2020 permezz ta’ komunikazzjoni online, b’mod partikolari Skype, Zoom u Teams. Il-parteċipanti ġew orjentati fuq l-iskop tar-riċerka mill-Uffiċċju tal-Ispeaker tal-Kamra. Mil-lat etiku, -l istandards marbuta mal- kunfidenzjalità u l-anonimità ġew garantiti; għalhekk dawk intervistati huma riferiti sempliċiment bħala MP1, 2, 3, eċċ. Għal finijiet ta’ din ir-riċerka mhux essenzjali li tkun magħrufa l-alleanza politika ta’ dawk intervistati.

Is-sessjonijiet ta’ intervisti kienu eżerċitati fuq mudell strutturat imma, fl-istess waqt, ġew mistoqsija domandi in promptu biex ikun amplifikat jew mistħarreġ f’iżjed dettall xi punt partikolari. L-ewwel sett ta’ mistoqsijiet kienu jikkonċernaw id-definizzjoni, il-formazzjoni u r-relevanza tal-kuxjenza għall-politiku. Eventwalment, kienu mistoqsijin dwar xi esperjenzi fil-ħajja Parlamentari li kienu jinvolvu d-dimensjoni tal-kuxjenza. Finalment, kienu mitluba jikkummentaw kif jaqsmu l-lealtà tagħhom lejn il-kuxjenza, il-kostitwenti u l-partit.

Din ir-riċerka nħadmet f’kollaborazzjoni ma’ Dr George Vital Zammit li huwa kollega tiegħi fi ħdan id-Dipartiment tal-Public Policy fl-Università ta’ Malta.

In-narrattiva tal-Parlamentari Maltin

Id-diversi perspettivi li jirriżultaw mill-intervisti qegħdin ikunu kkategorizzati taħt tliet taqsimiet, kif ġej:

1. relevanza, tifsira u natura; 2. esperjenzi fil-Parlament; 3. lealtà lejn il-kuxjenza, il-kostitwenti u l-partit.

B’dan il-mod, ir-riċerka primarja li tirriżulta mill-fieldwork f’Malta tkun tista’ tiġi inkwadrata fl-isfond ta’ dak li kkwotajna mil-letteratura internazzjonali. -L użu ta’ kwotazzjonijiet ad verbatim jissokta jsaħħaħ l-kredibilità u l-awtenċità tan-narrativa domestika.

Relevanza, tifsira u natura

Dawk intervistati lkoll qablu li l-kuxjenza hija kruċjali biex il-politiku jaqdi dmiru fil-Parlament u fil-Partit. Uħud saħqu li l-kuxjenza hi meħtieġa biex trażżan l-eċċessi tal-poter għax isservi ta’ tarka kontra kull forma ta’ korruzzjoni. Oħrajn qalu li l-kuxjenza twassal lill-MP biex jieħu deċiżjoni favur il-ġid komuni, minflok jaġevola l-interessi tal-ftit.

Jekk trid tkun ġust u onest, il-kuxjenza hija kollox. Il-kuxjenza mhix ballun. (MP1)

Il-kuxjenza hi relevanti ħafna għax tmexxik għal x’inhu tajjeb u ħażin. Bħala politiku tkun

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Il-Kuxjenza u l-Membri Parlamentari Maltin (Kont.)

imdawwar bit-tentazzjonijiet u l-kuxjenza ma tħallikx taqa’ għalihom. (MP18) Il-kuxjenza ma tħallikx tagħżel dak li jaqbel lilek, imma tgħinek tiddeċiedi fuq is-sewwa. (MP19)

Meta kienu mitluba jiddefinixxu dan - it terminu, kien hemm taħlita ta’ ideat, kunċetti u elementi. Xi wħud sostnew l-għeruq tal-kuxjenza huma mħawla fir-reliġjon Kristjana peress li Malta hija tradizzjonalment Kattolika. Oħrajn esprimew opinjoni li televa l-element razzjonali li jikkostitwixxi l-kuxjenza, filwaqt li kien hemm min qal li ma jarax kunflitt bejn reliġjon u razzjonalità għax -it tnejn jikkontribwixxu għall-formazzjoni tal-kuxjenza. Minkejja l-opinjonijiet diversi, kważi lkoll jikkonverġu li l-kuxjenza hija essenzjalment ġudizzju morali.

Il-kuxjenza hija l-leħen fija li jridni nagħmel it-tajjeb u niċħad il-ħażin. Vuċi morali li tgħinni nagħmel l-għażliet tiegħi. (MP4)

Il-kuxjenza tiegħi hi fformata mir-reliġjon, imma hi indipendenti minn dak li tgħid il-Knisja. (MP10)

Il-kuxjenza tiegħi hija mibnija fuq il-valuri nsara li huma l-milja tal-valuri umani għax ipoġġu lill-persuna umana bħala prijorità fil-ħidma soċjali, politika u ekonomika. (MP20)

Il-kuxjenza għalija la hi leħen Alla u lanqas tappartjeni lil xi qafas reliġjuż. Għalija l-kuxjenza hi the inner me li dejjem ifittex kif suppost li jsiru l-affarijiet. Il-kuxjenza tgħinek tneħħi l-konfużjoni meta tiġi biex tiddeċiedi. (MP5)

Il-kuxjenza hija l-ġabra tal-esperjenzi li għaddejt minnhom u li għalhekk ifformaw -ir razzjonalità tiegħi. Hija speċi ta’ tribunal intern. (MP3)

Interessanti wkoll jekk il-Parlamentari Maltin iqisux lill-kuxjenza bħala assoluta jew inkella relattiva. Tal-ewwel tindika li l-kuxjenza hija msawra fuq prinċipji li jgħoddu għal kulħadd fi spazji u żminijiet differenti, waqt li -tat tieni ssostni li l-kuxjenza taf tvarja minn persuna għal oħra, minn kultura għal oħra, u minn żmien għal żmien. Hawnhekk ukoll it-tweġibiet tal-parteċipanti ma kinux f’sintonija u, xi drabi, ikkontradixxew lilhom infushom fuq in-natura tal-kuxjenza.

Il-prinċipji dwar l-etika fil-politika huma universali, u -t tentazzjonijiet huma wkoll universali. (MP3)

Il-kuxjenza tinkorpora prinċipji li huma assoluti għal kulħadd. Mhix relattiva. (MP18)

Għalija l-kuxjenza m’għandhiex titbiddel. Nemmen fl-assolutiżmu f’dan -ir rigward. Però mill-iżviluppi li jseħħu madwari, nibda niddubita. Għalhekk hemm lok ta’ tibdil fil-ġudizzju morali tiegħi, partikolarment meta ma jkollix konoxxenza ta’ informazzjoni li qabel ma kellix aċċess għaliha. (MP6)

Il-kuxjenza hi personali, relattiva u timmatura -maż żmien. Il-kuxjenza mhix ta’ kulħadd l-istess, imma nemmen li għandha tkun l-istess għal kulħadd. (MP10)

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Il-Kuxjenza u l-Membri Parlamentari Maltin (Kont.)

Esperjenzi fil-Parlament

L-elenku ta’ mistoqsijiet waqt l-intervisti għadda minn aspetti ta’ prinċipji u fehmiet għal esperjenzi reali fil- ħajja parlamentari fejn l-MP kellu jiddeċiedi fuq bażi ta’ kuxjenza. Minn dak li qalulna, jidher li kien hemm għadd ta’ ċirkostanzi fejn dan kien il-każ. Hawn tispikka l-fehma ta’ MP3 meta qal li ‘kull liġi li pproponejt, jew ivvutajt kontra jew favur, kelli ngħaddiha minn taħt il-minġel tal-kuxjenza’. MP13 jistqarr fehma dijametrikament opposta għal dan meta qal, ‘Ma jidhirlix li sofrejt minn kriżi ta' kuxjenza fis-snin li servejt bħala MP. Kont naqbel mal-manifest tal-Partit u dejjem imxejna skont dak li kellna miktub fil-manifest’.

Il-bqija ta’ dawk intervistati semmew każijiet speċifiċi fejn il-kuxjenza lagħbet parti mill-ingranaġġ tad-deċiżjonijiet li ħadu. Dawn il-każijiet ma jikkonċernawx biss materji li għandhom x’jaqsmu mal-ħajja, imma wkoll issues ekonomiċi u oħrajn ta’ ideoloġija politika u ta’ governanza. Hawn qegħdin nipproduċu lista ta’ deċiżjonijiet u liġijiet li ġew diskussi fil-Parlament Malti fejn l-eks MPs stqarrew li ħassew li kellhom jagħmlu ġudizzju morali, anki jekk mhux dejjem ingħataw vot ħieles mill-partit li jimmilitaw fi ħdanu.

• l-inklużjoni tal-prinċipju tan-newtralità fil-Kostituzzjoni; • it-trasferiment tal-artijiet tal-Knisja lill-Gvern; • ir-rikonoxxenza taż-żwieġ reliġjuż fuq dak ċivili; • it-teħid tal-art imqabbla għand il-bdiewa għal finijiet ta’ żvilupp; • is-sħubija ta’ Malta fl-Unjoni Ewropea; • il-vot dwar ir-ratifika tal-proposta fuq il-Kostituzzjoni Ewropea; • il-liġi tad-dritt tad-divorzju; • l-introduzzjoni tad-dritt tal-IVF; • it-twessigħ tal-liġi oriġinali tal-IVF; • il-liġi li tirrikonoxxi l-koabitazzjoni; • il-kriżi tal-Panama Papers fejn kienu implikati politiċi Maltin; • il-governanza tajba u allegati każijiet ta’ korruzzjoni; • it-tneħħija ta’ maġistrat mill-ħatra tiegħu; • iż-żwieġ bejn persuni tal-istess sess; • il-vot dwar ir-ratifika tad-Dikjarazzjoni ta’ Istanbul li ma tatx protezzjoni lit-tarbija fil-ġuf.

Meta l-eks MPs ġew mistoqsija jekk finalment ġibdux il-linja tal-partit meta ġew għall-vot, inkella żammewx mal- kuxjenza tagħhom u marru kontra d-direttivi tal-Whip, ir-reazzjonijiet kienu mħallta. Kien hemm min qal li jekk ħass li l-liġi proposta tmur kontra l-prinċipji fundamentali tiegħu- jew ‘red line’ - allura ħassu sigur li jmur kontra d-dixxiplina tal-Partit. Oħrajn qalu li xejn mhu faċli tagħmel dan, u għalhekk ivvutaw skont il-linja tal-Partit u, imbagħad, għażlu li ma joħorġux għall-elezzjoni ta’ wara. Il-fatt li għandna kultura politika diviżorja u polarizzata ma jgħinx biex l-MP iħossu liberu biex jaġixxi dejjem skont il-kuxjenza. Semmew ukoll il-fatt li l-kostitwenti ma jiħdux gost meta d-deputat tagħhom imur kontra l-Partit għax jippretenduh li għandu jkun dejjem f’sintonija mal-partit tagħhom. Il-kwotazzjonijiet li jmiss isostnu dawn il-fehmiet.

Fil-maġġorparti tal-każijiet, tkellimt fi ħdan il-partit u mbagħad ħadt azzjoni skont dak deċiż mill-maġġoranza. Minn hemm ’il quddiem imxejt mad-direzzjoni tal-Grupp Parlamentari. Meta, waqt id-diskussjonijiet, tkellimt kontra l-linja tal-partit, kien hemm min ħadni fuq demm id- dars għax ippretenda li dejjem inkun f’sintonija mal-kap jew mal-linja tal-partit. Fil-partit hemm tendenza li l-ewwel iċapċpulek u wara jċapċpuhielek! (MP5)

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Il-Kuxjenza u l-Membri Parlamentari Maltin (Kont.)

Kriżi ta' kuxjenza tinqala’ aktar fil-Partit milli fil-Parlament. Meta fil-Partit toħroġ għonqok biex verament tiddefendi dak li temmen li huwa sewwa, jaf f’malajr issib min jaqtagħlek rasek barra. (MP14)

Ma ridtx immur kontra r-rieda tal-poplu espressa f’referendum u lanqas ma ridt nikkontradixxi l-kuxjenza tiegħi. Għamilt kompromess u astjenejt. Ma jisgħobbini xejn li ħadt dan il-pass. (MP6)

Bħala MP ma ħassejtnix ħieles. Hu ovvju li jkollok tiġbed il-linja tal-Partit. Inkella tkun redikolat u tispiċċa tbati l-familja miegħek. Kelli nivvota kontra dak li ħassejt li hu ġust u hemm iddeċidejt li nħalli l-politika u ma nerġax nikkontesta. (MP18)

Minn dak espress fl-intervisti jidher ċar li l-MPs, ħafna drabi, isibu rwieħhom b’idejhom marbuta u mhux dejjem ikun sostenibbli għalihom li jiċħdu l-linja tal-partit biex jippreservaw il-prinċipji skont kif iddettati mill-kuxjenza tagħhom. Dan imur kontra l-ispirtu tad-Dikjarazzjoni Universali tad-Drittijiet Umani li jipproklama l-libertà li wieħed għandu kull dritt li jaġixxi skont il-kuxjenza u dan id-dritt għandu jkun eżerċitat mhux biss fil-ħajja privata, imma wkoll fil-ħajja pubblika.

Lealtà lejn il-kuxjenza, il-partit u l-kostitwenti

L-aħħar taqsima tan-narrativa primarja hija mnebbħa- mit trepied li jitkellem fuqu Godfrey Pirotta u li kien imseddaq minn Edmond Burke f’diskors li kien għamel fil-Parlament Ingliż fl-1774. Hawn qed nirreferu għal kif l-MP iqassam il-lealtà tiegħu bejn dak li huwa sewwa skont kif tgħidlu l-kuxjenza, l-elettorat li jeliġġih f’elezzjoni ġenerali u l-partit li lilu jappartjeni u li fi ħdanu jikkandida ruħu. Lill-eks MPs Maltin staqsejniehom jekk ipoġġux dawn it-tliet tipi ta’ lealtajiet fi skaluni ta’ prijorità differenti, inkella jekk jaddottawx kriterji aktar pragmatiċi u jagħtu d-dritta lil dik il-lealtà li l-aktar li tkun valida skont iċ-ċirkustanzi tal-mumenti. Dawn huma xi osservazzjonijiet li rriżultawna.

Wieħed għandu dejjem jivvota skont il-kuxjenza u li tkun kompatibbli mal-policies tal- partit. (MP2)

L-ewwel lealtà lejn is-sewwa. Imbagħad il-prijorità hija r-responsabilità ministerjali, partikolaremt lejn in-nies li għalihom kont responsabbli. Però qatt ma ħassejthom f’kunflitt dawn- it tlieta. (MP4)

Il-ħajja tal-politiku hi miżgħuda bil-kompromessi. Hemm fejn tista’ tagħmilhom u hemm fejn le, partikularment fejn jidħlured lines. Il-kompromess mhux ħażin fih innifsu, però ma’ xi ħaġa intrinsikament ħażina, ma tistax tagħmlu. (MP5)

Hija taqbida kontinwa għalija. Bejn il-partit, il-kostitwenti u l-kuxjenza, il-prijorità tiddependi fuq l-issue. Fejn hemm issue li tmiss red line, il-kuxjenza tiġi l-ewwel. (MP10)

Irid ikollok lealtà lejn il-partit, imma m’għandekx tibża’ tieħu pożizzjoni f’isem- il kuxjenza. L-importanti hu li n-nies ikunu jafu fejn huma miegħek u li int nadif u mhux approachable għal skorretezza. (MP14)

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Il-Kuxjenza u l-Membri Parlamentari Maltin (Kont.)

Il-lealtà lejn il-kuxjenza għalija tiġi l-ewwel, però jkollok tagħmel il-kompromessi. Jien kelli nagħmel xi ftit kompromessi, imma kull kompromess li għamilt, dejjaqni. Ma ħassejtnix komdu. (MP18)

Konklużjoni

Martin Luther King kien qal, There‘ comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right’ (Washington, 2003). Din ir-riċerka kompliet tikkonferma kemm din il-konvinzjoni hija diffiċli biex il-politiku Malti jipprattikaha, f’kuntest fejn- il konformiżmu mal-linja tal-partit ma jagħtix lok għal vuċijiet kuntrastanti. Il-fatt li aktar minn 85% tal-MPs preżenti għażlu li ma jiħdux sehem f’din ir-riċerka minnu nnifsu huwa xhieda ta’ kemm hu delikat dan is-suġġett; delikat daqstant li ma jħallihomx komdi jipparteċipaw. Mill-banda l-oħra, l-eks MPs m’għadhomx iżjed marbutin mad-dixxiplina tal- partit u għalhekk huma aktar ħielsa biex jieħdu sehem u jgħidu l-affarijiet kif esperjenzawhom fil-passat. Anzi, xi ftit, kienu huma li xtaqu jipparteċipaw bi ħġarhom f’din ir-riċerka.

Il-Parlamentari Maltin huma lkoll konxji - mir relevanza u l-importanza tal-kuxjenza fil-qadi ta’ dmirijiethom, kemm fil-Kamra tad-Deputati u kif ukoll fi ħdan il-Partit. Għalkemm għandhom fehmiet kuntrastanti - fuqit tifsira u n-natura tal-kuxjenza, ilkoll jikkonverġu fuq il-pern ewlieni li l-kuxjenza hija ġudizzju morali dwar x’inhu tajjeb u x’inhu ħażin. Ikkonfermaw ukoll li materji ta’ kuxjenza mhumiex biss dawk assoċjati mal-ħajja bħall-abort, l-ewtanażja, l-IVF u drittijiet tal-minoranzi, imma jinkludu wkoll kwistjonijiet oħrajn ta’ natura ideoloġika, ekonomika u ta’ governanza. Il-pressjoni fuq l-MP tant hija kbira li ħafna minnhom stqarrew li l-politiku mhux bniedem ħieles u jkun hemm drabi fejn ikollu jilħaq ‘kompromess’ - inkella ‘bilanċ’ - bejn dak li hu sewwa u dak li jrid minnu l-Partit jew il-kostitwenti tiegħu. Dan l-istudju preliminari jiftaħ it-triq għal aktar riċerka fuq dan is-suġġett tant importanti fil-qasam tal-istudju politiku u tal-ħidma parlamentari.

Radd il-ħajr

• Lill-Onor. Anġlu Farrugia, l-Ispeaker tal-Parlament, li awtorizza li ssir din ir-riċerka • Lis-Sur Ray Scicluna, l-iskrivan tal-Kamra tad-Deputati, li kien strumentali biex setgħu jintlaħqu l-MPs li għoġobhom jaċċettaw -l istedina biex jipparteċipaw f’din ir-riċerka • Lill-kollega Dr George Vital Zammit li qiegħed jaħdem miegħi fuq din ir-riċerka

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Il-Kuxjenza u l-Membri Parlamentari Maltin (Kont.)

Riferenzi

Aristotle (2009), Nicomachean Ethics (transl. W. D. Ross). Oxford: Oxford University Press Burke, Edmund (1834) [1774], ‘Speech to the Electors of Bristol’, ippubblikat f’The Works of the Right Hon. Edmund Burke, Vol. 1 DeBattista, A. (2020), Il-Libertà tal-Kuxjenza, Il-Leħen, 28/06/2020, p. 12 Machiavelli, N. (2015), The Prince. USA: Penguin Miller, E.J. (ed.) (2014), Conscience the Path to Holiness: Walking With Newman. UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Pierce, C.A. (1958), Conscience in the New Testament, Studies in Biblical Theology. Scruton, R. (2007), Dictionary of Political Thought. USA: Palgrave Macmillan United Nations (1948), Universal Declaration of Fundamental Human Rights. [online] https://www.un.org/en/ universal-declaration-human-rights/#:~:text=The%20Universal%20Declaration%20of%20Human%20Rights%20 (UDHR)%20is%20a%20milestone,the%20history%20of%20human%20rights.&text=It%20sets%20out%2C%20 for%20the,translated%20into%20over%20500%20languages. Vassallo, M.T. & Cachia, J.C. (2020), ‘Domestic and European Response to Irregular Migration: Malta’s Moral Dilemma 2020-2016’ in Vassallo, M.T. & Tabone, C. (eds) Public Life in Malta III: Papers on Governance, Politics and Public Affairs in the EU’s Smallest Member State. Malta: L-Universita’ ta’ Malta. Vassallo, M.T. (2021), Godfrey Pirotta: Il-Politika ta’ Ħajja. Malta: Horizons. Washington, J.M. (2003), A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches, USA: Harper One

Dott. Mario Thomas Vassallo jgħallem il- politika u l-amministrazzjoni pubblika fid- Dipartiment tal-Public Policy fl-Università ta’ Malta. Kitbietu ġew ippubblikati minn djar tal-kotba f’Malta u oħrajn internazzjonali. Koeditur tas-serje ta’ kotba bl-isem Public Life in Malta. Iservi fuq il-Bord tad-Diretturi tal-Fondazzjoni għas-Servizzi tal-Ħarsien Soċjali. Ipproduċa għadd ta’ sensiliet radjufoniċi li jittrattaw temi soċjali, politiċi u ta’ Melitensia fuq Campus FM, FM Bronja u Radju Malta.

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Conscience and the Maltese Members of Parliament

by Dr Mario Thomas Vassallo

What is conscience? Which are those elements that shape and mould it? Is conscience absolute or relative? And does conscience develop and mature as the person matures or is it static because it does not change? In this paper we shall be trying to answer these questions through the perspective of a number of Maltese former parliamentary members on the matter. The theme of conscience in politics is one that has often been explored by philosophers, moralists and other scholars, but this dualism has rarely, if ever, been studied within the Maltese political sphere. In this context, this paper shall be formulating the definition of conscience in the context of the way it is applied in political science and in parliamentary work. This shall be followed by providing information on the methodology employed in gathering the primary data. The contrasting perspectives of Maltese members of parliament are rolled out in the last section of this paper which also features some concluding reflections.

From the international literature

In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights one finds two interesting statements. The first is that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, and are also endowed with reason and conscience that help them live in society. The second statement ties in with the first: everyone has the right to freedom of thought and conscience, either alone or in community with others (United Nations, 1948). As DeBattista (2020) declares, the freedom to act according to one’s conscience is therefore not a right which one can exercise in private, but a right that can also be exercised in public.

Many have tried to define conscience. Some arrived at this through rational arguments, whilst others turned to religion to define it. In the classical era we find Aristotle who, in his work Ta Ethika, concludes that the study and practice of ethics is rooted in moral judgement. Therefore, ethics is intrinsically woven into the line that separates right from wrong. It was the apostle St Paul who was the first to use the idea of conscience as man’s internal voice which helps him recognize and choose the correct course of action (Pierce, 1958). Building on this argument, St Thomas Aquinas went on to claim that the foundation of all morally virtuous acts by man is reason. On the other hand Cardinal Newman concluded that conscience is intuitive because it is shaped by man’s experiences and, ultimately, describes it as ‘the law of the mind’ (Miller, 2014). Emanuel Kant and other eighteenth century philosophers argued that conscience should override any other consideration; in the sense that it should silence any other argument or sentiment that goes against conscience (Scruton, 2007: 128). They believed that the person who embraces morality correctly has all the authority to act and take decisions.

On the other side of the coin, one cannot proceed without mentioning Nicolo Machiavelli who, in his political Renaissance treatise. The Prince, claims that the politician’s quest for glory and survival can justify the use of immoral means to achieve those ends (Machiavelli, 2015). In the contemporary post-modern era dominated by neo-liberal beliefs, the idea of conscience hinges on one’s individual choices, always in view of improving one’s quality of life. These choices are taken according to the circumstances, and therefore lean towards pragmatic rather than ideological politics (Vassallo & Cachia, 2020). In case of the latter, conscience is definitely relative and not absolute. Sustained by a political scenario characterized by populism that quells all forms of elitism, contemporary conscience alienates any form of ideological, religious and scientific framework, as its primary concern is the individual’s instantaneous gratification. This is a process that leads to the suppression of one’s real conscience.

When applying conscience to the politician’s life, Professor Godfrey Pirotta stresses that loyalty to one’s conscience is what spurs members of parliament (MPs) to choose a particular course of action (Vassallo, 2021). According to him, conscience is the voice of righteousness and justice in each and every person’s heart and mind. It is the measure which delineates the boundary between what is wrong and what is

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Conscience and the Maltese Members of Parliament (Cont.) right. A righteous person who believes in a political ideology should always be in tune with his conscience. The dilemma is that at times this loyalty towards one’s moral convictions may come into conflict with one’s loyalty towards the electorate and/or to the party. This is an extremely difficult conundrum which has been debated ever since we started experimenting with the idea of representative democracy.

Pirotta seems to imply that a member of parliament’s loyalty is triadic: towards his conscience, the electorate and the party. The first helps him distinguish between what is right or wrong. On the other hand, he needs the constituents in order to gain a seat in Parliament, whilst the party gives him a platform on which to run for political office. The English politician Edmund Burke (1730-1797) was one of the first to talk eloquently and act decisively whenever a conflict arose between the three loyalties: towards the people, towards the party and towards his conscience (or as he himself interpreted it ‘the national interest’). In a memorable speech he gave to his Bristol electors on 3 November 1774, Burke explained that, although he respects the interests and aspirations of the voters who chose him to represent them in Parliament, he does not feel that in matters relating to the national interest or morality he necessarily owes them the total subjugation of his own views to theirs if these are in conflict. The passage which I am reproducing here, taken from the afore-mentioned speech, is perfect evidence of Edmund Burke’s sentiment, who is considered to be the father of modern conservatism, with regard to the conflict between loyalty to the people and loyalty towards what isright,

He went on to state that if then the people still remain opposed to his views, they have every right and obligation not to vote for him in the next election. However, as long as the people’s representative remains serving in Parliament he should, first and foremost, be loyal to a clean and morally sound conscience. According to Burke, loyalty towards the electorate should rank second in terms of priority. The argument of this 18th century politician is still strong and relevant even today, and God only knows how many times we heard this very same argument in today’s parliaments every time a deputy decides not to vote according to the party discipline or according to his constituents’ wishes who would naturally be supporting the party. A parliamentary vote taken according to the moral principles of the individual’s conscience will always arouse controversy, especially if it goes against the party line.

After having provided an overview of the various definitions and implications of conscience, and the way they developed through the centuries, it is now time to turn our attention to examine the research methodology employed in this study.

Methodology

Before beginning the formal process of data gathering, an exploratory study was carried out during which discussions were held with a number of academics to help us better understand the theoretical and contextual implications of the subject. Eventually, a methodology was designed which makes use of both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The former had to consist of a questionnaire addressed to Members of Parliament

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Conscience and the Maltese Members of Parliament (Cont.)

(MPs) who currently sit in the House of Representatives, while the second includes a number of structured interviews with former MPs. Once we obtained the approval from the Speaker’s Office, all current MPs were given a questionnaire, whilst concurrently we approached the Association of Former MPs to urge its members to participate in the interviews part of the study.

Only 10 out of the current 67 MPs completed the questionnaire; one from the government’s side, eight from the Opposition and another did not specify. These represent a low response rate of 14.9%. Owing to such a low response it was not possible to compute and present meaningful statistics. Therefore, the collection of primary data was based solely on interviews with former MPs. Twenty former MPs accepted the invitation; ten from the Labour Party (PL) and ten from the Nationalist Party. The interviews were conducted between May and June 2020 by means of online communication, particularly Skype, Zoom and Teams. The participants were briefed about the scope of the research by the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. From an ethical point of view, the standards pertaining to confidentiality and anonymity were guaranteed; therefore the respondents are simply referred to as MP1, 2, 3, etc. For the sake of this research, knowledge about the respondents’ political alliance is not essential.

The interview sessions followed a structured model but, at the same time, spontaneous questions were asked to amplify or investigate a particular point in more detail. The first set of questions related to the definition, the formation and the relevance of conscience to the politician. Eventually, they were questioned about any experience during their parliamentary life which involved the conscience dimension. Finally, they were asked to comment about the way they divide their loyalty towards their conscience, their constituents and the party.

The Maltese member of parliament’s narrative

The different perspectives emerging from the interviews are categorized under three sections, as follows:

1. relevance, meaning and nature; 2. experiences in Parliament; 3. loyalty towards one’s own conscience, towards the constituents and towards the party.

In this way, the primary research ensuing from the fieldwork in Malta can be framed against the backdrop of the quotes we presented from the international literature. The use of ad verbatim quotes further strengthen the credibility and authenticity of the domestic narrative.

Relevance, meaning and nature

The respondents all agreed that conscience is crucial for the politician to carry out his duty in Parliament and within the party. Some stressed that conscience is necessary to curb the excesses brought about by power because it serves as a shield against any form of corruption. Others said that conscience leads MPs to take decisions in favour of the common good, rather than serving the interests of the few.

If you want to be fair and honest, conscience is everything. Conscience is not a ball. (MP1)

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Conscience and the Maltese Members of Parliament (Cont.)

Conscience is very relevant because it guides you towards what is right and what is wrong. As a politician you're surrounded by temptations and conscience doesn’t allow you to give in to them. (MP18)

Conscience does not allow you to choose what suits you, but helps you decide to choose what is right. (MP19)

When asked to define this term, there was a mix of ideas, concepts and elements. Some claimed that conscience is rooted in the Christian religion since Malta is traditionally Catholic. Others expressed an opinion that elevates the rational element that constitutes conscience, whilst others claimed they see no conflict between religion and rationality because both contribute to the formation of conscience. Despite the different opinions, almost all converge towards the idea that conscience is essentially moral judgement.

Conscience is a voice within me that wants me to do good and reject what is bad. A moral voice that helps me in my choices. (MP4)

My conscience is shaped by religion, but it is independent from what the Church says. (MP10)

My conscience is built on the Christian values which are the pinnacle of human values because they place the human being as a priority in social, political and economic work. (MP20)

For me conscience is neither God’s voice nor belongs to any religious framework. For me conscience is the inner me which always seeks the way things should be done. Conscience helps you eliminate confusion when you need to take a decision. (MP5)

Conscience is the collection of the experiences I have gone through and which therefore shaped my rationality. It is sort of an internal tribunal. (MP3)

It is also interesting to see whether Maltese members of parliament consider conscience as absolute or relative. The former indicates that conscience is built on principles that are applicable to everyone in different spaces and times, whilst the second retains that conscience may differ between one person and another, from one culture and another, and changes over time. Here too the participants’ answers were not in syntony and, sometimes, contradicted themselves with regard to the nature of conscience.

The principles regarding ethics in politics are universal, and even temptations are universal. (MP3)

Conscience embodies principles that are absolute for all. It is not relative. (MP18)

Personally speaking conscience should not change. I believe in absolutism in this regard. However the developments happening around me make me start to doubt this. So there is room for change in my moral judgement, particularly when I would not be aware of information which I previously did not have access to. (MP6)

Conscience is personal, relative and matures over time. Not everyone’s conscience is the same, but I believe that it should be. (MP10)

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Conscience and the Maltese Members of Parliament (Cont.)

Experiences in Parliament

The list of questions asked during the interviews ranged from aspects of principles and opinions toreal parliamentary life experiences where the MP had to decide on the basis of conscience. From what we were told, it seems there were a number of circumstances where this was the case. Here MP3’s perspective stands out in saying that ‘any law I proposed, or voted for or against, I had to pass through the conscience scrutiny’. MP13 expresses a diametrically opposite view to this in saying, ‘I do not think I ever suffered a crisis of conscience in all the years I have served as an MP. I agreed with the Party’s manifesto and always acted according to what was written in the manifesto.

The rest of those interviewed mentioned specific cases where conscience played a part in leveraging the decisions taken. These cases do not just involve matters relating to life, but also economic issues and others relating to political ideology and governance. This is a list of decisions and laws which were discussed in the Maltese Parliament where the former MPs admitted they felt they had to make a moral judgement, despite the fact they were not always given a free vote by their party:

• the inclusion of the principle of neutrality in the Constitution; • the transfer of church land to the Government; • the recognition of religious marriage over civil marriage; • the appropriation of land cultivated by farmers for development purposes; • Malta’s membership in the European Union; • the vote on the ratification of the proposal regarding the European Constitution; • the law regarding the right to divorce; • the introduction of the right to IVF; • extending the scope of the original law regarding IVF; • the law recognising cohabitation; • the Panama Papers crisis in which Maltese politicians were implicated; • good governance and alleged cases of corruption; • the removal of a judge from office; • marriage between same sex persons; and • the vote on the ratification of the Istanbul Declaration which did not afford protection to the unborn child.

When the former MPs were asked whether they ultimately towed the party line when it came to voting, or whether they voted according to their conscience and went against the directives of the Whip, the reactions were mixed. Some said that if they felt that the proposed law went against their fundamental principles - or the red line - then they had no qualms going against the party discipline. Others said that it is quite hard doing this, and therefore voted according to the party line and then opted not to contest the following election. The fact that our political culture is a partisan and polarized one does not help MPs feel free to always act according to their conscience. They also mentioned the fact that constituents do not like it when their representative goes against the party lines because they expect him to always be in syntony with their party. The following quotes support these views.

In the majority of cases, I voiced my opinion within the party and then took action according to the majority decision. From then onwards I always followed the direction of the parliamentary group.

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Conscience and the Maltese Members of Parliament (Cont.)

When, during discussions, I voiced an opinion that goes against the party line, some people took a dislike to me because they expected me to always be in syntony with the leader or with the party line. In the party the tendency is that people first applaud you then stab you in the back (l-ewwel iċapċpulek u wara jċapċpuhielek)! (MP5)

A crisis of conscience is more likely to arise in the context of the party rather than in Parliament. When you stick your neck out within the party to really defend something you believe is right, there's a high risk you'll find someone trying to shoot you down. (MP14)

I did not want to go against the will of the people expressed in a referendum nor did I want to go against my conscience. I made a compromise and abstained. I absolutely do not regret acting that way. (MP6)

As an MP I did not feel free. It’s obvious, you have to toe the party line. Otherwise you’d end up being ridiculed and ultimately even your family ends up suffering the consequences with you. I had to vote against what I felt was right and that was when I decided to leave politics and not contest another election. (MP18)

From what was expressed in the interviews it is clear that very often MPs find themselves with their hands tied behind their back because it is not always sustainable for them to go against the party line to preserve the principles as dictated by their conscience. This goes against the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which proclaims that everyone has the right to freedom of conscience and to act in accordance with it and this right must be exercised not only in one’s private life but also in public.

Loyalty towards one’s own conscience, towards the party and towards the constituents

The last section of the primary narrative is inspired by the triad referred to by Godfrey Pirotta and which was the focal point in a speech given by Edmund Burke in the English Parliament in 1774. Here we are referring to the way the MP divides his loyalty between what is right as dictated by his conscience, the electorate who elected him in a general election and the party to whom he belongs and on whose ticket he runs. We asked the former Maltese MPs whether they rank these three types of loyalties differently in terms of priority, or whether they adopt more pragmatic criteria and assign priority according to the most valid one under the circumstances. These are some observations put forward.

One should always vote according to one’s conscience and which is compatible with the party’s policies. (MP2)

The foremost loyalty is towards what is right. The second priority is the ministerial responsibility, particularly towards the people for whom I was responsible. But I never felt that these three were in conflict. (MP4)

A politician’s life is full of compromises. In some cases you can make a compromise and in others you cannot, particularly when it comes to red lines. In itself, compromise is not wrong, but when faced with something inherently wrong, you cannot make any compromise. (MP5)

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Conscience and the Maltese Members of Parliament (Cont.)

For me it is a constant struggle. Between the party, the constituents and my conscience, the priority depends on the issue. Where there is an issue that borders the red line, conscience comes first. (MP10)

You must be loyal to the party, but you must not be afraid to take a stance on the basis of conscience. The important thing is that others know where they stand with you and know that you are honest and not approachable because you are amoral. (MP14)

Personally speaking, loyalty towards my conscience comes first, however you must make compromises. I had to make some compromises, but each time I made compromise I felt uneasy. I wasn't comfortable. (MP18)

Conclusion

Martin Luther King had said,‘There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right’ (Washington, 2003). This research further confirmed how difficult it is for the Maltese politician to put this conviction into practice, in a context where conformism to the party line does not proscribe conflicting views. The fact that over 85% of the current MPs chose not to take part in this research, in itself proves how sensitive this subject is; so sensitive that they did not feel comfortable participating. On the other hand, former MPs are no longer tied to the party’s discipline and are therefore freer to participate and talk about past experiences. In fact, some of them were eager to participate in this research.

The Maltese members of parliament are all aware of the relevance and importance of conscience in the performance of their duties, both within the House of Representatives as well as within the party. Despite their contrasting views on the meaning and the nature of conscience, all converge on the fundamental principle that conscience is a moral judgement regarding what is right and what is wrong. They also confirmed that matters of conscience are not only those associated with life such as abortion, euthanasia, IVF and minority rights, but also include other ideological, economic and governance matters. The pressure on so many MPs is so great that many of them stated that a politician is not a free person and there are times where he has to reach a compromise - or balance - between what is right and what the party or the constituents require of him. This preliminary study paves the way for further research on this very important topic in the field of political studies and parliamentary work.

Acknowledgements

• Hon. Anġlu Farrugia, Speaker of the House of Representatives, who gave his authorisation for this research to be carried out • Mr Raymond Scicluna, Clerk of the House of Representatives, who was instrumental in being able to get in touch with the MPs who accepted the invitation to participate in this research • My colleague Dr George Vital Zammit who is working with me on this research.

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Conscience and the Maltese Members of Parliament (Cont.)

References

Aristotle (2009), Nicomachean Ethics (transl. W. D. Ross). Oxford: Oxford University Press

Burke, Edmund (1834) [1774], ‘Speech to the Electors of Bristol’, published in The Works of the Right Hon. Edmund Burke, Vol. 1

DeBattista, A. (2020), Il-Libertà tal-Kuxjenza, Il-Leħen, 28/06/2020, p. 12

Machiavelli, N. (2015), The Prince. USA: Penguin

Miller, E.J. (ed.) (2014), Conscience the Path to Holiness: Walking With Newman. UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Pierce, C.A. (1958), Conscience in the New Testament, Studies in Biblical Theology.

Scruton, R. (2007), Dictionary of Political Thought. USA: Palgrave Macmillan

United Nations (1948), Universal Declaration of Fundamental Human Rights. [online] https://www.un.org/en/ universal-declaration-human-rights/#:~:text=The%20Universal%20Declaration%20of%20Human%20Rights%20 (UDHR)%20is%20a%20milestone,the%20history%20of%20human%20rights.&text=It%20sets%20out%2C%20 for%20the,translated%20into%20over%20500%20languages.

Vassallo, M.T. & Cachia, J.C. (2020), ‘Domestic and European Response to Irregular Migration: Malta’s Moral Dilemma 2020-2016, in Vassallo, M.T. & Tabone, C. (eds) Public Life in Malta III: Papers on Governance, Politics and Public Affairs in the EU’s Smallest Member State. Malta: L-Università ta’ Malta

Vassallo, M.T. (2021), Godfrey Pirotta: Il-Politika ta’ Ħajja. Malta: Horizons

Washington, J.M. (2003), A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches, USA: Harper One

Dr Mario Thomas Vassallo teaches politics and public administration in the Department of Public Policy at the University of Malta. His works have been published by both local and international publishing houses. He is co-editor of a series of books titled Life in Malta. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services. He has produced a number of radio programmes on social and political themes and Melitensia on Campus FM, FM Bronja and Radju Malta.

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

L-Elezzjonijiet f’Malta ta’ qabel l-Indipendenza 1836-1962 mill - Prof. George Cassar

Sal-1835, Malta kolonjali ma kellhiex kostituzzjoni, li sa Diċembru 1898, meta l-kleriċi issa bdew jeħtieġu kienet tfisser li l-Gvernatur kien jamministra l-kolonja l-permess tal-isqof ta’ Malta biex ikunu jistgħu bl-għajnuna ta’ pariri miksuba minn uffiċjali tal-gvern. jikkontestaw. Meta finalment ingħatat kostituzzjoni formali fl-1835, din ma kinitx tipprevedi korp elett. B’hekk, il-Maltin Saru aktar elezzjonijiet ġenerali fl-1854, fl-1860, fl- komplew jitolbu li jkollhom id-dritt li jkollhom vuċi 1865, fl-1870, fl-1875, fl-1880 u fl-1883, bl-aħħar fl-affarijiet tagħhom stess, talba li mbagħad ingħatat waħda saret fl-1884. Ħlief fil-każ tal-1884, l-elezzjonijiet parzjalment mill-Kostituzzjoni tal-1849. l-oħrajn kollha attiraw 70% jew aktar tal-elettorat. Dr Fortunato Mizzi ppreżenta ruħu bħala kandidat L-ewwel elezzjoni ġenerali f’Malta kolonjali saret bejn għall-ewwel darba fl-elezzjoni tal-1880. Din id-data is-16 u l-20 ta’ Awwissu 1849. L-irġiel biss setgħu timmarka wkoll id-dehra fix-xena Maltija tal-ewwel jivvotaw, u biex jikkwalifikaw kellu jkollhom 21 sena formazzjonijiet politiċi. Waħda minn dawn kienet il- u aktar, filwaqt li l-għarfien tat-Taljan jew tal-Ingliż Partito Anti-riformista, li kkontesta l-ewwel elezzjoni kien ukoll rekwiżit. Barra minn hekk, il-votanti kellu tiegħu fl-1880 u li aktar tard sar il-Partito Nazionale jkollhom introjtu ta’ mhux inqas minn 100 skud fis- taħt it-tmexxija ta’ Fortunato Mizzi. Il-formazzjoni sena minn proprjetà jew inkella jkunu ħallsu mill-inqas l-oħra kienet l-hekk imsejjaħ Reform Party, li tnieda 50 skud f’kera annwali. Għal din l-ewwel elezzjoni kien minn Sigismondo Savona u mbagħad tmexxa minn Dr hemm 3,767 persuna li kkwalifikaw bħala votanti. Il- Pasquale Mifsud. Il-Kwistjoni tal-Lingwa tat lill-partit kandidati kkontestaw f’isimhom stess billi ma kienx ta’ Mizzi spinta fil-popolarità mal-elettorat. hemm partiti uffiċjali u kellhom bżonn minimu ta’ 100 vot biex jiġu eletti, filwaqt lil-voti ma kinux Bil-pressjoni politika għolja li kien hemm f’dak iż-żmien, trasferibbli. Tmien persuni kellhom jiġu eletti fil-Kunsill il-Gvern Brittaniku ta lil Malta l-Kostituzzjoni tal-1887. tal-Gvern, u n-negozjant Giuseppe Pulis Montibello Dan id-dokument legali ġdid ippermetta li 10 minn kien il-kandidat li kiseb l-ogħla numru ta’ voti b’716- fost l-20 membru tal-Kunsill jiġu eletti mill-elettorat il vot f’din l-ewwel elezzjoni. L-irġiel eletti l-oħrajn ġenerali. Erbgħa oħra kellhom jintgħażlu minn eletturi kienu: il-Kanonku Dr Don Filippo Amato, Michelangelo speċjali, separatament minn fost il-kleru, in-nobbiltà, Scerri (negozjant), il-Monsinjur Dr Don Annetto il-proprjetarji tal-art u n-negozjanti, u l-gradwati tal- Casolani (isqof), il-Monsinjur Dr Don Leopoldo Fiteni università. L-elezzjonijiet kellhom isiru kull tliet snin, (arċipriet), Dr Arcangelo Pullicino (tabib), Gio. Battista bl-ewwel waħda tkun dik tal-1888. Ir-Reform Party Vella (negozjant) u, għal Għawdex, Dr Adriano Dingli mmexxi minn Savona ma rnexxielu jirbaħ l-ebda siġġu (avukat). F’din l-istess elezzjoni, Giorgio Mitrovich f’din l-elezzjoni, filwaqt li f’dik ta’ wara, jiġifieri tal- kiseb biss 26 vot. 1889, il-partit ta’ Savona spiċċa- r rebbieħ. Sakemm ġiet irtirata din il-kostituzzjoni, saru elezzjonijiet fl- Tlieta minn dawn l-ewwel tmien membri tal-Kunsill 1888, fl-1889, fl-1892, fl-1895, fl-1898, fl-1899 u fl- tal-Gvern kienu kleriċi. Billi lill-Ingliżi ma kinitx 1900. Il-Konti Gerald Strickland ġie elett għall-ewwel togħġobhom il-preżenza klerikali, minħabba li kienu darba biex jirrappreżenta lin-nobbiltà fl-1888 taħt jibżgħu mill-influwenza tal-Knisja, fl-1857 il-qassisin l-arma tal-Partito Nazionale. Sigismondo Savona ġie kienu pprojbiti milli jikkontestaw l-elezzjonijiet għall- elett (minn żewġ distretti) għall-ewwel darba taħt din Kunsill. Madankollu, il-Maltin ma qablux ma’ dan u il-kostituzzjoni fl-1889. Eventwalment, il-kostituzzjoni x-xewqa tagħhom ġiet ikkonfermata mir-riżultati tal- ġiet irtirata minħabba li n-Nazzjonalisti komplew ewwel referendum li qatt sar f’Malta, fejn maġġoranza jopponu lill-gvern kolonjali, bil-qofol tan-nuqqas ta’ kbira ħafna vvotaw favur li l-kleriċi jippreżentaw qbil intlaħaq bil-Vot dwar l-Edukazzjoni għall-1903-04. ruħhom għall-elezzjoni. Abbażi ta’ din l-għażla demokratika, mill-1870 setgħu jiġu eletti sa żewġ B’hekk, Malta ngħatat il-Kostituzzjoni tal-1903 (il- kleriċi, minn kwalunkwe denominazzjoni reliġjuża, Kostituzzjoni ta’ Chamberlain) li ppermettiet tmien biex jirrappreżentaw lill-poplu. Dan baqa’ fis-seħħ membri eletti. Il-membri eletti Maltin adottaw tattika

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

L-Elezzjonijiet f’Malta ta’ qabel l-Indipendenza 1836-1962 (Kont.) li biha, wara li jiġu eletti, kienu jirriżenjaw minnufih 1927. Wara l-ELEZZJONI TAL-1924, IL-PRIM MINISTRU wara li jiddikjaraw l-oppożizzjoni tagħhom għal din KIEN DR FRANCESCO BUHAGIAR, SEGWIT MINN DR il-kostituzzjoni. Bejn Awwissu 1903 u April 1904, UGO P. MIFSUD. Fl-1926, il-U.P.M. u l-P.D.N. ingħaqdu inħarġu seba’ proklamazzjonijiet differenti għall-istess biex jifformaw il-Partito Nazionalista (P.N., li aktar tard għadd ta’ elezzjonijiet. Għall-ewwel sitt elezzjonijiet sar il-Partit Nazzjonalista). Bl-elezzjonijiet ġodda fl- ippreżentaw ruħhom l-istess kandidati u, billi dawn 1927, Sir Gerald Strickland tas-C.P. sar il-Prim Ministru ma ġewx ikkontestati, ġew eletti awtomatikament ta’ Malta, filwaqt li s-C.P. tiegħu u- l L.P. iggvernaw mingħajr elezzjoni formali. Għas-seba’ proklamazzjoni b’mod konġunt, wara ftehim fl-1926, magħruf bħala ħadd ma ppreżenta ruħu u ma sarux elezzjonijiet l-‘Compact’, bejn iż-żewġ partiti. oħrajn qabel l-1904. Kien f’Jannar 1905 li tnediet l-Associazione Politica Maltese minn Fortunato Mizzi (li Minħabba tilwima politiko-reliġjuża bejn iż-żewġ partiti miet f’Mejju ta’ wara). Fl-1907 reġgħet saret elezzjoni tal-gvern u l-Knisja Kattolika f’Malta, li damet għaddejja ġenerali, segwita minn oħrajn fl-1909, fl-1911, fl-1912, matul il-perjodu ta’ din il-leġiżlatura, l-elezzjonijiet ma fl-1913, fl-1915 u fl-1917. Sadanittant, fl-1910 tnediet sarux skont it-terminu stabbilit. Dawn ġew posposti formazzjoni politika ġdida, il-Comitato Patriottico sal-1932 u mbagħad l-elettorat ivvota kemm għall- mmexxi mill-Monsinjur Ignazio Panzavecchia, u dan il- Assemblea kif ukoll għas-Senat. Il-P.N. rebaħ l-elezzjoni partit iddomina l-elezzjoni ġenerali tal-1911. Fl-1917, u Sir Ugo Mifsud sar Prim Ministru. Madankollu, dan daħal fix-xena politika Dr Enrico Mizzi u huwa kien il-gvern kellu ħajja qasira, hekk kif sal-1933 l-Ingliżi elett mid-distrett ta’ Għawdex. ordnaw lill-Gvernatur Sir David Campbell biex jieħu f’idejh l-amministrazzjoni ta’ Malta u l-kostituzzjoni Wara li l-Ewwel Gwerra Dinjija ġiet fi tmiemha fl-1918, ġiet sospiża. il-Maltin reġgħu talbu għal kostituzzjoni aħjar. Ġiet ifformata Assemblea Nazzjonali taħt it-tmexxija ta’ Dr Il-Kostituzzjoni l-ġdida tal-1936 kienet repetizzjoni Filippo Sciberras, sabiex tiddiskuti din il-kostituzzjoni tas-snin tal-bidu tas-seklu 19, bil-Maltin ma jkollhom ġdida u ltaqgħet għall-ewwel darba fi Frar 1919. l-ebda vuċi reali fl-affarijiet tagħhom stess. Eżatt qabel F’Ġunju tal-istess sena saret laqgħa ta’ segwitu, meta it-taqlib li ġabet magħha t-tieni gwerra dinjija, Malta seħħew l-irvellijiet tas-Sette Giugno. Il-Kostituzzjoni ngħatat il-kostituzzjoni tal-1939. F’din l-elezzjoni, is- tal-1921 ġiet ftit wara, li tat awtogovernanza lil Malta C.P. rebaħ il-maġġoranza. Minħabba s-sitwazzjoni tal- għall-ewwel darba. Kien hemm erba’ partiti politiċi gwerra, dan il-Kunsill kompla jiltaqa’ sal-1945. Il-Maltin li pparteċipaw fl-ewwel elezzjoni ġenerali taħt din il- ġew imwiegħda gvern awtonomu wara l-gwerra u, għal kostituzzjoni, li kienu La Camera del Lavoro, li biddel din ir-raġuni, ġiet imsejħa Assemblea Nazzjonali taħt ismu għal Partit tal-Ħaddiema (Labour Party - L.P.), il-presidenza tal-Konti Sir Luigi Preziosi. Waqt li kienet il-Partito Democratico Nazionalista (P.N.D.), l-Unione qed tiġi diskussa kostituzzjoni, il‑Gvernatur Lt Ġen. Politica Maltese (U.P.M.) u l-Partit Kostituzzjonali Edmund Schreiber sejjaħ elezzjonijiet ġodda. Filwaqt (Constitutional Party - C.P.). L-elezzjonijiet issa saru li s-C.P. u l-P.N. ma qablux ma’ dawn l-elezzjonijiet biex jiġu eletti kandidati għal Assemblea ta’ 32 qabel l-għoti ta’ kostituzzjoni ġdida, il-L.P. qabel, bl- membru u għal Senat ta’ 17-il membru. Il-U.P.M. rebaħ elezzjonijiet eventwalment saru f’Novembru 1945. 14-il siġġu fl-Assemblea u 4 siġġijiet fis-Senat. Is-C.P. Il-L.P. immexxi minn Dr Paul Boffa kiseb 9 siġġijiet, u l-L.P. rebħu 7 siġġijiet kull wieħed fl-Assemblea, filwaqt li Jones Party (J.P.), immexxi minn Henry Jones, b’siġġu u 2 siġġijiet, rispettivament, fis-Senat. Il-P.D.N. kiseb is-siġġu li kien fadal. Minħabba l-kriżi tat-Tarzna rebaħ 4 siġġijiet fl-Assemblea. L-ewwel prim ministru marbuta ma’ għadd kbir imminenti ta’ tkeċċijiet, illi qatt kellha Malta, li f’dak iż-żmien kien uffiċjalment kunsilliera tal-L.P. irriżenjaw u l-Kunsill ġie aġġornat magħruf bħala l-Kap tal-Ministeru, kien Joseph sine die fis-27 ta’ Settembru 1947. Howard. Saru elezzjonijiet oħrajn fl-1924, fl-1927 u fl- 1932. In-Nazzjonalisti rebħu dawk tal-1921, tal-1924 Malta issa ngħatat il-Kostituzzjoni tal-1947 b’vot u tal-1932. Is-C.P. u l-L.P. f’koalizzjoni rebħu dik tal- universali għal dawk li kellhom 21 sena u aktar.

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

L-Elezzjonijiet f’Malta ta’ qabel l-Indipendenza 1836-1962

(Kont.)

F’Ottubru 1947 saret elezzjoni, b’ħames partiti kollu, minħabba li ddiżintegrat wara perjodu qasir fil- jirnexxilhom ikollhom il-kandidati tagħhom eletti, kariga, u dan wassal għal elezzjoni oħra fl-1955. filwaqt li l-L.P. rebaħ u Dr Paul Boffa sar Prim Ministru. Il-partiti l-oħrajn li kisbu siġġijiet kienu l-P.N., id- Il-M.L.P. rebaħ b’maġġoranza assoluta u Dom Democratic Action Party (D.A.P.), il-J.P. u l-Partit Mintoff sar Prim Ministru. Il-gvern Laburista beda Għawdxi (Gozo Party). Din kienet l-ewwel darba li diskussjonijiet dwar l-Integrazzjoni mal-Gran Brittanja. n-nisa setgħu jikkontestaw elezzjoni u kien hemm żewġ Fi Frar 1956 sar referendum dwar il-kwistjoni, b’dawk kandidati nisa li ppreżentaw ruħhom, b’Agatha Barbara favur ikunu fil-maġġoranza. Madankollu, bit-tkeċċijiet tiġi eletta fuq il-biljett tal-L.P. mit-Tarzna imminenti f’dan iż-żmien u mingħajr ma ntlaħaq ftehim mal-Gran Brittanja fuq il-kwistjoni, Għall-elezzjoni li saret fl-1950, iż-żewġ fazzjonijiet Mintoff irriżenja fl-1958. Borg Olivier, bħala mexxej tal-eks L.P. (li kien inqasam fl-1949) ikkontestaw tal-Oppożizzjoni, irrifjuta li jifforma gvern. Il-Parlament rispettivament taħt l-isem tal-Malta Workers’ Party ġie xolt f’April 1959 u l-kostituzzjoni ġiet sospiża. Il- (M.W.P.) immexxi minn Dr Paul Boffa, u l-Malta Labour Kostituzzjoni l-ġdida tal-1959 ma ppermettietx li jsiru Party (M.L.P.) immexxi mill-Perit Dominic Mintoff. Il- elezzjonijiet popolari u Malta tpoġġiet taħt gvern formazzjonijiet politiċi l-oħrajn kienu l-P.N., immexxi immexxi minn gvernaturi. F’dan iż-żmien tnedew minn Dr Enrico Mizzi, is-C.P., taħt it-tmexxija tal-Prof. partiti ġodda u żviluppat tilwima politika-reliġjuża oħra Robert V. Galea, id-Democratic Action Party taħt- it mill-1960. tmexxija tal-Prof. Giuseppe Hyzler u l-J.P. immexxi minn Henry Jones. Kien hemm ukoll erba’ kandidati Il-kolonja ngħatat il-Kostituzzjoni tal-1962, li ppermettiet indipendenti. Il-P.N. kiseb biss maġġoranza relattiva li jsiru elezzjonijiet għal Assemblea Leġiżlattiva. Il- u din l-elezzjoni ma pprovdiet l-ebda rebbieħ ċar. Il- P.N. appoġġja l-Istatus ta’ Dominju – independenza P.N. kiseb 12-il siġġu, l-M.L.P. u l-M.W.P. kisbu 11-il fi ħdan il-Commonwealth tal-Gran Brittanja. Il-M.L.P. siġġu kull wieħed, is-C.P. kiseb 4 siġġijiet, id-D.A.P. kien ukoll favur Malta indipendenti. Il-partiti iżgħar li kiseb siġġu wieħed, filwaqt li l-aħħar siġġu mar għand ppreżentaw ruħhom għal din l-elezzjoni ma kinux favur kandidat indipendenti. Inizjalment, il-Prim Ministru l-indipendenza. Dawn il-partiti kienu: id-Democratic kien Dr Enrico Mizzi, iżda minħabba li miet fil-kariga Nationalist Party (D.P.N.), immexxi minn Dr Herbert ftit wara, Dr George Borg Olivier ħadlu postu. Dan il- Ganado; il-Christian Workers’ Party (C.W.P.), immexxi gvern wassal biss sat-22 ta’ Frar 1951, u b’hekk saru minn Anthony Pellegrini; il-Christian Democratic Party elezzjonijiet ġodda, li għalihom ikkontestaw ħames (C.W.P.) taħt it-tmexxija ta’ George Ransley; u l-P.C.P. partiti. Mill-partiti preċedenti, kien il-J.P. biss li ma immexxi minn Mabel Strickland. L-elezzjonijiet saru kisibx siġġu. Borg Olivier bħala Prim Ministru ggverna fi Frar 1962, bil-P.N. joħroġ rebbieħ u li b’hekk ta f’koalizzjoni mal-M.W.P., iżda din l-amministrazzjoni ċ-ċans lil Borg Olivier jerġa’ jsir Prim Ministru. Il-partiti baqgħet għaddejja biss sal-1953. l-oħrajn, ħlief is-C.W.P., kollha rnexxielhom ikollhom kandidati eletti. Wara- t taħditiet dwar -l Indipendenza Fl-elezzjoni ta’ wara, li saret fl-1953, minbarra l-M.L.P., bejn il-partiti politiċi Maltin fl-Assemblea Leġiżlattiva li issa kiseb maġġoranza relattiva, il-kontestanti l-oħrajn u l-gvern Ingliż, f’Mejju 1964 sar referendum biex jiġi kienu l-P.N., il-M.W.P. u s-C.P., filwaqt li tfaċċat- fix deċiż għandhiex tiġi approvata jew le l-proposta tal- xena politika formazzjoni ġdida msejħa l-Progressive Indipendenza. Ir-riżultati wrew li- l maġġoranza kienu Constitutional Party (P.C.P.), taħt -it tmexxija ta’ Mabel favur u, b’hekk, Malta kisbet il-Kostituzzjoni tal-1964, Strickland. Għalkemm il-M.L.P. kiseb 19-il siġġu, li kienet il-kostituzzjoni tal-Indipendenza. Għalhekk, koalizzjoni bejn il-P.N. (18-il siġġu) u l-M.W.P. (3 siġġijiet) l-elezzjoni li kien imiss saret f’Malta indipendenti. ifformat l-amministrazzjoni l-ġdida b’Borg Olivier bħala Prim Ministru. Is-C.P. u l-P.C.P. ma kisbu l-ebda siġġu. Din il-koalizzjoni ma rnexxilhiex tagħmel it-terminu

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

L-Elezzjonijiet f’Malta ta’ qabel l-Indipendenza 1836-1962

(Kont.)

Ċertifikat tal-vot għall-elezzjoni tal-Assemblea Leġiżlattiva – għar-Raba’ Diviżjoni Elettorali (sors: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ commons/b/b4/1930_elections_in_Malta.jpg)

Id-dokument maħruġ mill‑Gvernatur għall‑ħatra tal-Kummissjoni Elettorali għall-elezzjoni tal-1962 (korteżija tal-Arkivji Nazzjonali ta’ Malta)

Comm. Prof. George Cassar huwa Associate Professor fl-Istitut għat-Turiżmu, l-Ivvjaġġar u l-Kultura tal-Università ta’ Malta. Huwa soċjologu storiku u pedagoġista b’interessi Tpinġija għal disinn tal-kaxxa fejn jintefgħu ta’ riċerka fl-Istorja u s-Soċjoloġija tal- Edukazzjoni; il-Pedagoġija tal-Patrimonju l-voti li kellha tintuża fl-elezzjoni tal-1958 Kulturali, l-Istorja u l-Istudji Soċjali; l-Istorja (korteżija tal-Arkivji Nazzjonali ta’ Malta) tat-Tagħlim tal-Istorja; l-Istudju tal-Ordni ta’ San Ġwann (SMOM); l-Istorja u l-Kultura ta’ Malta; il-Patrimonju u l-Kultura; it-Turiżmu Kulturali; u l-Istorja u s-Soċjoloġija tal-Ikel. Huwa l-awtur jew l-editur ta’ kotba u rivisti akkademiċi, u ppubblika għadd ta’ studji fil- ġurnali u kapitli f’kotba relatati mal-oqsma ta’ interess tiegħu.

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020 Elections in pre-independence Malta 1836-1962

b y P r o f . G e o r g e C a s s a r

Up till 1835 colonial Malta did not have a constitution, of the bishop of Malta to be able to contest. which meant that the Governor administered the colony with the help of advice obtained from Further general elections took place in 1854, 1860, government officials. When a formal constitution 1865, 1870, 1875, 1880 and 1883 with the last held was at last granted in 1835, this did not provide for in 1884. Except in the case of 1884, all the other an elected body. The Maltese thus continued to claim elections attracted 70% or more of the electorate. Dr the right to have a say in their own affairs, a request Fortunato Mizzi presented himself as a candidate for that was then partially granted by the Constitution the first time in the election of 1880. This date also of 1849. marks the appearance on the Maltese scene of the first political formations. One was the Partito Anti- The first general election in colonial Malta took place riformista, first contesting the 1880 election and between 16 and 20 August 1849. Only males could which later became the Partito Nazionale under the vote, and to qualify they had to be 21 years of age leadership of Fortunato Mizzi. The other formation and over while knowledge of Italian or English was was the Reform Party, which was launched by also a requirement. Besides, voters were to have Sigismondo Savona and then led by Dr Pasquale an income of not less than 100 scudi a year from Mifsud. The Language Question gave Mizzi’s party a property or else paid at least 50 scudi in annual popularity boost with the electorate. rent. For this first election there were 3,767 who qualified as voters. Candidates contested in their With political pressure high, the British Government own name as there were no official parties and granted Malta the Constitution of 1887. This new needed a minimum of 100 votes to be elected, while legal document permitted 10 out of the 20 members votes were not transferable. Eight persons were of the Council to be elected by the general electorate. to be elected to the Council of Government, and Another four were to be chosen by special electors, the merchant Giuseppe Pulis Montibello was the one each from among the clergy, the nobility, the highest-obtaining candidate with 716 votes in this landed proprietors and businessmen, and the first election. The other elected men were: Canon Dr university graduates. Elections were to be held Don Filippo Amato, Michelangelo Scerri (merchant), every three years, with the first being that of 1888. Mgr Dr Don Annetto Casolani (bishop), Mgr Dr Don The Reform Party led by Savona failed to win any Leopoldo Fiteni (archpriest), Dr Arcangelo Pullicino seats in this election, while in the following one of (physician), Gio. Battista Vella (merchant) and 1889 Savona’s party emerged as the victor. Till the for Gozo, Dr Adriano Dingli (lawyer). In this same withdrawal of this constitution, elections had been election, Giorgio Mitrovich gained only 26 votes. held in 1888, 1889, 1892, 1895, 1898, 1899 and 1900. Count Gerald Strickland was first elected to represent Three out of these first eight members of the Council the nobility in 1888 under the badge of the Partito of Government were clerics. As the British did not Nazionale. Sigismondo Savona was elected (from like the clerical presence, fearing the Church’s two districts) for the first time under this constitution influence, in 1857 priests were prohibited from in 1889. The constitution was eventually withdrawn contesting elections to the Council. However the because the Nationalists continued to oppose the Maltese did not agree with this and their wish was colonial government, with the apex of disagreement confirmed by the results of the first-ever referendum being reached on the Education Vote for 1903-04. held in Malta where an overwhelming majority voted in favour of clerics presenting themselves for Malta was thus given the Constitution of 1903 (the election. On the basis of this democratic choice, Chamberlain Constitution) which allowed eight from 1870 up to two clerics, from any religious elected members. The Maltese elected members denomination, could be elected to represent the adopted a tactic by which, on being elected they people. This remained in force until December 1898, would immediately resign after stating their when clerics now began to require the permission opposition to this constitution. Between August

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Elections in pre-independence Malta 1836-1962 (Cont.)

1903 and April 1904, seven different proclamations new elections in 1927, Sir Gerald Strickland of the C.P for as many elections were issued. For the first six became Malta’s Prime Minister, while his C.P. and the elections the same candidates presented themselves, L.P. governed jointly, following an agreement in 1926, and not being contested, were thus automatically known as the Compact, between the two parties. elected without a formal election. For the seventh proclamation no one came forward and no other Due to a politico-religious dispute between the two elections were held until 1904. It was in January 1905 government parties and the Catholic Church in Malta, that the Associazione Politica Maltese was launched which stretched along the period of this legislature, by Fortunato Mizzi (who died the following May). In elections were not held according to the set term. 1907 a general election was again held, followed by These were postponed till 1932 and then the electorate others in 1909, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1915 and 1917. voted for both the Assembly and the Senate. The P.N. In the meantime a new political formation, the won the election and Sir Ugo Mifsud became Prime Comitato Patriottico led by Mgr Ignazio Panzavecchia, Minister. This was, however, a short-lived government had been launched in 1910 and this party dominated as by 1933 the British ordered Governor Sir David the 1911 general election. In 1917 Dr Enrico Mizzi Campbell to take over the administration of Malta and came on the political scene and was elected from the the constitution was suspended. Gozo district. The new Constitution of 1936 was a repetition of early With World War One concluded in 1918, the Maltese 19th century years with the Maltese having no real say once again asked for a better constitution. A National in their own affairs. Just before the turmoil of World Assembly was formed under Dr Filippo Sciberras War Two, Malta was granted the Constitution of 1939. to discuss this new constitution and first met in In this election the C.P. won the majority. Due to the February 1919. A sequel meeting was held in June war situation this Council continued to meet until of the same year when the Sette Giugno riots took 1945. The Maltese had been promised autonomous place. The Constitution of 1921 soon followed, which government after the war, and for this reason a granted self-government to Malta for the first time. National Assembly was convened under the presidency Four political parties participated in the first general of Count Sir Luigi Preziosi. While a constitution was election under this constitution, these being La being discussed, Governor Lt Gen. Edmund Schreiber Camera del Lavoro which changed its name to Labour called fresh elections. While the C.P. and the P.N. did Party (L.P.), the Partito Democratico Nazionalista not agree with such elections before the granting of a (P.N.D.), the Unione Politica Maltese (U.P.M.) and the new constitution, the L.P. did, with elections being held Constitutional Party (C.P.). Elections now took place in November 1945. The L.P. led by Dr Paul Boffa got 9 to elect candidates to a 32-member Assembly and a seats while the Jones Party (J.P.) led by Henry Jones got 17-member Senate. The U.P.M. won 14 seats in the the remaining seat. Due to the Dockyard crisis linked Assembly and 4 seats in the Senate. The C.P. and the to an imminent large number of discharges, the L.P. L.P. each won 7 seats in the Assembly with 1 and 2 councillors resigned and the Council was adjourned seats respectively in the Senate. The P.D.N. won 4 sine die on 27 September 1947. seats in the Assembly. The first ever prime minister of Malta, which at the time was officially known as Malta was now granted the Constitution of 1947 with Head of the Ministry, was Joseph Howard. Other universal suffrage for those who were 21 years old elections were held in 1924, 1927 and 1932. The and over. An election was held in October 1947, with Nationalists won those of 1921, 1924 and 1932. The five parties managing to get their candidates elected, C.P. and L.P. in coalition won that of 1927. After the while the L.P. won and Dr Paul Boffa became Prime 1924 election the Prime Minister was Dr Francesco Minister. The other parties with seats were the P.N., Buhagiar followed by Dr Ugo P. Mifsud. In 1926 the the Democratic Action Party (D.A.P.), the J.P., and U.P.M. and the P.D.N. united to form the Partito the Gozo Party. This was the first time that women Nazionalista (P.N. later Partit Nazzjonalista). With could contest an election and two female candidates

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Elections in pre-independence Malta 1836-1962 (Cont.)

presented themselves, with Agatha Barbara being However, with discharges from the Dockyard looming elected on the L.P. ticket. at this time and with no agreement being reached with Britain on the issue, Mintoff resigned in the 1958. For the election held in 1950 the two factions of Borg Olivier, as leader of the Opposition, refused to the former L.P (which had split in 1949) contested form a government. Parliament was dissolved in April respectively under the name of the Malta Workers’ 1959 and the constitution was suspended. The new Party (M.W.P.) led by Dr Paul Boffa, and the Malta Constitution of 1959 did not permit popular elections Labour Party (M.L.P.) led by Perit Dominic Mintoff. and Malta was put under gubernatorial government. The other political formations were the P.N. led by Dr New parties were launched at this time and another Enrico Mizzi, the C.P. under Prof. Robert V. Galea, the politico-religious dispute developed as from 1960. Democratic Action Party under Prof. Giuseppe Hyzler and the J.P. led by Henry Jones. There were also four The colony was granted the Constitution of 1962, independent candidates. The P.N. only achieved a allowing elections to a Legislative Assembly. The P.N. relative majority and this election provided no clear supported Dominion Status – independence within winner. While the P.N. got 12 seats, the M.L.P. and the the British Commonwealth. The M.L.P. was also for M.W.P. obtained 11 seats each, the C.P. got 4 seats, an independent Malta. The smaller parties present the D.A.P. one, with a last going to an independent for this election did not favour independence. These candidate. Initially the Prime Minister was Dr Enrico parties were: the Democratic Nationalist Party (D.P.N.), Mizzi but as he died in office soon afterwards, Dr led by Dr Herbert Ganado; the Christian Workers’ Party George Borg Olivier succeeded him. This government (C.W.P.) headed by Anthony Pellegrini; the Christian survived only till 22 February 1951, and new elections Democratic Party (C.W.P.) under George Ransley; were thus held with five parties contesting. Of the and the P.C.P. led by Mabel Strickland. Elections took previous parties only the J.P. did not obtain a seat. place in February 1962 with the P.N. coming out as Borg Olivier as Prime Minister governed in coalition the victor giving Borg Olivier the chance to become with the M.W.P., but this administration held together Prime Minister once again. The other parties, except only till 1953. the C.W.P., all managed to get candidates elected. Following talks on Independence between the Maltese In the election that followed, held in 1953, besides political parties in the Legislative Assembly and the the M.L.P., which now achieve a relative majority, the British government, a referendum was held in May other contestants were the P.N., the M.W.P., and the 1964 to approve or otherwise the Independence C.P., while a new formation called the Progressive proposal. The results showed a majority to be in favour Constitutional Party (P.C.P.) led by Mabel Strickland, and Malta thus gained the Constitution of 1964, which appeared on the political scene. Though the M.L.P. got was the Independence constitution. The next election 19 seats, a coalition between the P.N. (18 seats) and therefore took place in an independent Malta. the M.W.P. (3 seats) formed the new administration with Borg Olivier as Prime Minister. The C.P. and the P.C.P. did not obtain any seat. This coalition did not manage to do the whole term as it disintegrated after a short period in office, and triggering another election in 1955.

The M.L.P. won with an absolute majority and Dom Mintoff became Prime Minister. The Labour government started discussions on Integration with Britain. A referendum on the issue was held in February 1956 with those in favour being in the majority.

mill-PARLAMENT - Diċembru 2020

Elections in pre-independence Malta 1836-1962 (Cont.)

A crowd gathered in St George’s Square in front of the Governor’s Palace to follow the developing election results of the 1962 general election (courtesy Malta National Archives)

Comm. Prof. George Cassar is Associate Professor in the Institute for Tourism, Travel and Culture of the University of Malta. He is a historical sociologist and pedagogist with research interests in the History and Sociology of Education; the Pedagogy of Heritage, History and Social Studies; the History of History Teaching; the Study of the Order of St John (SMOM); the History A poster announcing and explaining the and Culture of Malta; Heritage and Culture; Cultural Tourism; and the History Independence referendum of 1964 (courtesy and Sociology of Food. He is the author or Malta National Archives) editor of books and academic journals, and has published numerous papers in journals and chapters in books related to his areas of interest.

39 Ħidma Parlamentari Parliamentary Work Ġunju 2017 – Diċembru 2020 June 2017 – December 2020

Seduti fil‑Plenarja 412 Plenary Sittings Laqgħat tal‑Kumitati Meetings of Standing 457 Permanenti Committees Stqarrijiet Ministerjali 32 Ministerial Statements

Mozzjonijiet 455 Motions

Mozzjonijiet Privati 39 Private Members’ Motions

Mozzjonijiet għall‑Ewwel Motions for First Reading Qari ta’ Abbozzi ta’ Liġi 198 of Bills Liġijiet mgħoddija 154 Acts enacted by Parliament mill‑Parlament Liġijiet approvati b’votazzjoni Acts approved upon division at 12 fi stadju tat-Tielet Qari Third Reading stage Mistoqsijiet Parlamentari 16,851 Parliamentary Questions

Dokumenti mqiegħda fuq Documents laid on the Table of il‑Mejda tal‑Kamra 5,840 the House

Diskorsi tal‑Aġġornament 291 Adjournment Speeches

Deċiżjonijiet tas‑Sedja 55 Rulings by the Chair

Membri Parlamentari li siefru Members of Parliament on fuq xogħol parlamentari 264 parliamentary duties abroad Delegazzjonijiet parlamentari barra minn Malta/laqgħat Parliamentary delegations virtuali mmexxija mill-Ispeaker/ 45 abroad/virtual meetings led by mid-Deputy Speaker the Speaker/Deputy Speaker