Electoral checks ‘do not comply with international standards’, says international election watchdog
Tax refunds and stimulus checks distributed by the government during this year’s election campaign do not comply with international standards and good practice, according to an international election monitoring body.
The woman expert report on this year’s parliamentary election, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) questioned the timing of the tax refund, after being paid two weeks before the general election.
“Such actions can blur the line between the party and the state and do not comply with international standards and good practice,” the report reads.
Indeed, the OSCE has recommended that no major announcements of financial allocations should take place during campaign periods, ie when this could create a “favorable perception of a particular party or candidate”.
The breakdown of two transfer payments, a budget commitment for a tax credit as well as an exemption payment to assist post-pandemic spending, have been widely criticized for their reckless disbursement two weeks before Malta went to work. -voting.
Independent candidate Arnold Cassola had submitted a report to the OSCE and the Malta Electoral Commission alleging a corrupt practice on checks.
In its 25-page report, the OSCE made a range of recommendations to improve Malta’s electoral process.
On media issues, the body said the Broadcasting Authority should monitor and enforce legal obligations for impartiality and accuracy in broadcasting while providing due remedies.
The OSCE continued to criticize the appointment procedure for members of the management boards of both the Broadcasting Authority and the Public Broadcasting Services.
To ensure the editorial independence of the public broadcaster, the OSCE said its management should be selected through a transparent and competitive process.
With regard to political finance regulations, the OSCE said that the legal framework should be revised to strengthen the oversight system, including by providing the Electoral Commission with the necessary powers and resources to conduct oversight. , proactive and efficient investigation and enforcement.
In addition, the Auditor General could also be empowered to conduct pro-active investigations and publish findings on misuse of public resources for campaign purposes, the report says.