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People's Party (Malta)

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People's Party
Partit Popolari
AbbreviationPP
PresidentCarmel Borg
LeaderPaul Salomone
Deputy LeaderClint Calleja
General SecretaryAntoine Sciberras
TreasurerJoseph Micallef
FoundedAugust 2020
Registered9 July 2020
HeadquartersValley Road, Birkirkara
Youth wingĠenerazzjoni Malta
Ideology

2021–2022
Anti-lockdown politics
Anti-EU Green Pass[3]
Political positionRight-wing[4] to far-right[5][6]
ReligionRoman Catholicism
Colours  Blue
SloganFamilja, Nazzjon, Libertà (Maltese: Family, Nation, Liberty)
House of Representatives
0 / 79
European Parliament
0 / 6
Local Council Seats
0 / 462
Website
partitpopolari.mt

The People's Party (Maltese: Partit Popolari, PP), also erroneously called the Popular Party by Maltese English-language media,[7] is a conservative political party in Malta. It was founded in July 2020 and is currently headed by Paul Salomone. The party has never obtained any seats in local councils or the Maltese parliament. It does not contest European elections. It is considered right-wing[8] to far-right[5][9] by certain journalists and portals, however the party protests against the latter characterisation.[10]

History

[edit]

The People's Party was registered in July 2020 and would be launched later in November of the same year.[11] In the first annual general meeting held on 4 August 2020, Paul Salomone, who had previously contested the 2008 election on the list of National Action,[12] was confirmed leader of the party. In the 2022 general election, the first election the party participated in, contested with a total of 8 candidates in all 13 districts.[13] They received 1,533 votes (0.53%) and did not elect any of their candidates, coming in second place amongst the third parties after ADPD and fourth nationwide.

Even if it shares the same name as that of People's Party of 1895 that was founded by Sigismondo Savona, the party in 1895 did not inspire the newer one.[further explanation needed] The party also remembered Enrico Mizzi in the 72nd anniversary of his death.[14]

Ideology and activity

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Ideologically, it is a right-wing populist and conservative party, and it opposes immigration, opposing "the abuse of the asylum system to facilitate economic migration".[15] The party's founding document, entitled Il-Pilastri tal-Partit Popolari (English: The Founding Principles of the People's Party), described it as seeking the "wider use of the referendum", promoting the principle of subsidiarity locally and at the European level, supporting "the traditional family without prejudice to the rights of non-traditional families", and seeking to "represent Malta in Europe rather than Europe in Malta".[16] The party has coupled together traditional-conservative positions with Eurosceptic and anti-immigration stances.[15] The party is mainly active through press conferences and statements sent to national television. It has also been jointly participating in press conferences on cost of living and social values with Catholic social teaching-inspired think tank Moviment Solidarjetà (English: Solidarity Movement), led by former Nationalist MP Edwin Vassallo.[7][17]

LGBTQ

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The party proposes preference of heterosexual couples over non-heterosexual couples in adoption.[18] It has also proposed the removal of government funding for gender affirming care for all ages and the raising of the minimum age to 21,[18] despite the medical age of consent being 16 in Malta.[19] The party made a Facebook post on 13 January 2023 disapproving of the government's strengthening of a law which strengthens bans on gay conversion therapy,[20] claiming that it tramples on individual liberty.[21] On 7 February 2023 another Facebook post by the party claimed that they are against "Indoctrination of our children at school",[22] in reference to an article by tabloid newspaper[citation needed] LovinMalta regarding new government policy aimed at making schools more inclusive.[23]

COVID-19 politics

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On the 16 January 2022 It organized anti-green pass protests.[3] Furthermore, the party also protested against preventive measures against COVID-19, such as lockdowns and the distribution of vaccines.[13]

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  • People's Party Logo with Motto according to 2021 Statutes

Electoral history

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Local Elections

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Election Leader Seats Contested Votes % Seats +/– Rank
2024 Paul Salomone 227 New 5th

House of Representatives

[edit]
Election Leader Seats Contested Votes % Seats +/– Rank Status
2022 Paul Salomone [a] 1,533 New 4th Extra-parliamentary
2027 TBA


European Parliament

[edit]
Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Rank Status
2024 Paul Salomone Did not participate

References

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  1. ^ Maltese electoral law permits candidates to optionally contest a seat in two districts, not just one. For the People's Party, 8 different individuals contested the 2022 election.
  1. ^ "Il-Partit Popolari jipproponi lill-Għawdxin referendum dwar is-sħubija fl-UE". TVM News (in Maltese). 6 March 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Partit Popolari leader against decriminalisation of abortion". 13 May 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Hundreds gather in Valletta for Partit Popolari protest against COVID-19 Green Pass". Malta Daily. 16 January 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  4. ^ "From ABBA to Żaren: Here's How Malta's Small Political Parties and Independent Candidates Did This Election". 29 March 2022.
  5. ^ a b Vella, Matthew (20 November 2020). "Partit Popolari, led by former AN activist Paul Salomone, is latest far-right grouping". MaltaToday. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  6. ^ Mallia, Amy (6 March 2022). "Here's What Small Political Parties In Malta Have Done In Week Two Of Their Election Campaign". Lovin Malta.
  7. ^ a b TVM Newsroom (15 October 2023). "Popular Party and Solidarity Movement on the effects of the cost of living increase". TVM News. Retrieved 28 October 2023. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  8. ^ "From ABBA to Żaren: Here's How Malta's Small Political Parties and Independent Candidates Did This Election". 29 March 2022.
  9. ^ Mallia, Amy (6 March 2022). "Here's What Small Political Parties In Malta Have Done In Week Two Of Their Election Campaign". Lovin Malta.
  10. ^ "Right of Reply: Partit Popolari and abortion referendum". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Jitnieda l-Partit Popolari Malti - TVM". TVM Maltese. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  12. ^ "Partit Popolari, led by former AN activist Paul Salomone, is latest far-right grouping". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  13. ^ a b "The Third Parties. Who are they?". A Bird's Eye View. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Il-Partit Popolari jsellem il-memorja ta' Enrico Mizzi". TVMnews.mt. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  15. ^ a b "New 'Popular Party' launched". Times of Malta. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  16. ^ "Il-Pilastri tal". Partit Popolari. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2022. 4) Nemmnu f'demokrazija aktar diretta u nappoġġjaw l-użu aktar wiesa' tar-referendum bħala għodda għat-teħid tad-deċiżjonijiet importanti. Nimpenjaw ruħna bħala partit li f'kull forum li nkunu rrappreżentati fih, nużaw il-vot tagħna skont l-istruzzjonijiet mogħtija lilna mill-membri sakemm dawn ikunu konformi mal-pilastri tal-Partit.
  17. ^ TVM Newsroom (28 October 2023). "Popular Party says its economic vision for Malta is for the country to provide higher added value". TVM News. Retrieved 28 October 2023. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  18. ^ a b "INSAĦĦU L-LIBERTÀ U NĦARSU L-BILANĊ ĠUST BEJN ID-DRITTIJIET U D-DMIRIJIET". Partit Popolari. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  19. ^ "Parliament agrees on granting 16-year-olds right to own medical consent". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  20. ^ "Law banning gay conversion therapy to be strengthened". Times of Malta. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  21. ^ "Partit Popolari". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  22. ^ "Partit Popolari". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  23. ^ Diacono, Tim (7 February 2023). "Malta Launches New Trans Child Policy In Light Of 'Growing Number' Of Gender-Transitioning Students". Lovin Malta. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
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