Parliament approved a second reading of the constitutional amendment proposing Gozo to remain as a single electoral district. The government voted in favour of the amendment while the opposition voted against it.
For the constitutional amendment to pass, at least two-thirds of the members of the House of Representatives are required to vote in favour. The amendment will be discussed in the committee stage and then enter its third reading.
The Nationalist Party (PN) has proposed that Gozo be a single electoral district last April. Discussions for a reform in the electoral law have been going on for more than a year.
The Nationalist party in government said that the amendment, put forward by Prime Minister Dr. Lawrence Gonzi, is aimed at allowing Gozitans from different localities to vote together as a holistic community for the same candidates. The party added that this step is another towards a regional policy for the island of Gozo.
The Malta Labour Party (MLP), which voted against the amendment, said it would vote in favour of the amendment on the condition that other would be reshuffled to avoid producing what it dubbed as possibly perverse electoral results.
See also:
PN proposes Gozo as single electoral district
By Alexia Conti
Apr 27, 2006, 08:27 CET
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