Volt asks candidates to vouch for not handing out favours for votes

Volt Malta has issued proposals against clientelism during and after the elections, which expect candidates to sign up for three goals:

1) I pledge to not give favours in exchange for votes.

2) I pledge to not give favours indirectly through any government institutions in exchange for votes.

3) I pledge to not give favours indirectly through any friends/partners in the private sector in exchange for votes.

The new political party presented the three pledges as part of its #PolitikaOnesta project, and will start revealing candidates’ responses on its website on Friday.

Naturally, Volt’s own candidates Alexia DeBono and Thomas ‘Kass’ Mallia have already agreed to sign the pledge, the party said.

“There have been numerous reports of clientelism in Malta which the law fails to adequately address. Activities called ‘treating’ are only regulated during elections however beyond that there is not much that can be done”, Volt Co-President Arnas Lasys said.

“The party aims to raise the standard of politics by encouraging people to promise to follow the pledge but also ‘name & shame’ those unwilling to participate or break the pledge from this election until the end of the next legislature.”