Update 5: Former PN treasurer against big donations to political parties

A draft party funding law started being debated today by the Parliamentary Committee for the Consolidation of Laws. The Bill was prepared by Franco Debono, who also chairs the committee. See details of the proposed law at : http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120105/local/Details-of-Debono-s-draft.401038 Dr Debono said the purpose of the committee's discussion was to spark debate on a matter which was last before parliament in 1995 as part of the deliberations on the basis of the Galdes Report. Today's committee was attended by, among others, representatives of the political parties, former party officials and observers of the political scene. Prof Kenneth Wain (who chairs the NGOs commission) said NGOs, including political parties, were not obliged to register with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations. He felt that registration should be mandatory for all NGOs. Non-registration made such organisations ineligible to state aid, a condition which Prof Wain said needed to be enforced consistently. Political parties never registered with the commissioner. Dr Debono said political parties were somewhat different from other NGOs since their ultimate aim was...