Government & Politics
Important changes in electoral law agreed
By MaltaMedia News
Sep 27, 2007 - 10:04:23 AM

The Maltese Parliament on Wednesday night approved changes in the Maltese Constitution that cater for significant changes in general elections. Gozo will remain a single unified electoral district while strict proportionality between the number of first preferences and the number of seats obtained will be guaranteed when two parties are elected.

These changes have to be implemented by the Electoral Commission by this Sunday, the deadline before the publication of the next electoral district. If this deadline is missed, a general election called before April 2008, when the following register is published, would be based on the current electoral register which sees Ghajnsielem part of the 12^th rather than the 13^th (Gozo) district.  This had been done to keep the 13^th district within certain limits in the number of voters.

The amendments were passed in one sitting where both the Government and Opposition agree, though Opposition Leader Alfred Sant lamented these changes had been long coming and are now being rushed.