Identità, European Parliament silent on systematic electoral form fraud

On Friday, NEWZ.mt revealed that Malta’s scandal-shaken government agency for identity management has systematically withheld mandatory electoral forms for newly-registering EU citizens.

While this newsroom has been contacted by further EU nationals in Malta who appear to be affected, Identità remains silent on the serious allegations.

Spokespersons for the European Parliament who were also asked for a reaction have chosen not to comment on the hot potato itself.

The EP’s press service merely reiterated that EU citizens residing in a member state of which they are not nationals have the right to vote in EP elections in their state of residence “under the same conditions as nationals (Article 22 TFEU)”.

“The national authorities in each Member State implement this disposition, and dispositions on implementation can vary around the EU”, a spokesperson said.

It is pertinent to note that this latest revelation of misconduct at Identità is not a result of varying implementations of the EU Treaty but an alleged violation of it.

Misuse of office?

Meanwhile, a source close to the agency has raised another serious allegation:

“If an EU national’s preference is a mandatory question – and we know it is – any [false] database input by Identità officials amounted to misuse of office when they had in fact not even asked the applicant”, they alleged.

“Imagine a government official withholding from you what is a compulsory question and quietly making that choice for you”, the source explained, adding that “there should be an immediate magisterial inquiry into this scandal”.

While the Nationalist Party has already expressed it has “no confidence in Identità”, the source suggested both the PN and the Labour Party were benefitting from the alleged misconduct.

“Who stands to benefit from fewer non-Maltese EU citizens voting in Malta, fewer potential voters who have not been PNPL brainwashed from birth? I think I just gave you the answer.”