People's Party (Malta)

The People's Party (Maltese: Partit Popolari, PP) is a political party in Malta. Ideologically, it is right-wing populist and conservative, and it opposes immigration.[6]

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
Political positionRight-wing[3] to far-right[4][5]
ReligionRoman Catholicism
Colours  Blue
SloganFamilja, Nazzjon, Libertà (Maltese: Family, Nation, Freedom)
House of Representatives
0 / 79
European Parliament
0 / 6
Local Council Seats
0 / 462
Website
partitpopolari.mt

History

The People's Party was registered in July 2020 under the leadership of Paul Salomone, who had previously contested the 2008 election on the list of National Action.[7]

In the first annual general meeting held on 4 August 2020, Paul Salomone was confirmed leader of the party. Salomone registered the party in July 2020 and would launch the party later in November same year.[8]

In the 2022 general election, the party contested with a total of 8 candidates in all 13 districts.[9] They failed to elect any of their candidates.

Ideology

The People's Party shares the same name as that of People's Party of 1895 that was founded by Sigismondo Savona. However, in December 2021, the People's Party remembered Enrico Mizzi.[10]

The party has coupled the traditional conservative-populist positions with Eurosceptic and anti-immigration stances.[6]

Its political foundational document, entitled The Pillars of the People's Party, described it as seeking "wider use of the referendum", promoting the principle of subsidiarity locally and at European level, supporting "the traditional family without prejudice to the rights of non-traditional families", opposing "the abuse of the asylum system to facilitate economic migration" and seeking to "represent Malta in Europe rather than Europe in Malta".[11]

It organized anti-green pass protests on 16 January 2022.[12] Furthermore, the party also protested against preventive measures against COVID-19, such as the distribution of vaccines.[9]

Regarding LGBT+ policy, the party has espoused a conservative and anti-LGBT+ attitude, wanting to revert some of the newer laws and policy which aim to assist or protect LGBT+ people. The party is in favor of discrimination when it comes to adoption, wanting heterosexual couples to be prioritized over non-heterosexual couples.[13] Partit Popolari has also embraced the cutting of government funding for gender affirming care for all ages and the raising of the minimum age to 21,[13] despite the medical age of consent being 16 in Malta.[14] The party made a Facebook post on 13 January 2023 disproving to the government's strengthening of a law which strengthens bans on gay conversion therapy,[15] claiming that it is trampling on individual liberty.[16] Similar beliefs can also be seen in the party manifesto.[13] On 7 February 2023 another Facebook post by the party claimed that they are against "Indoctrination of our children at school",[17] in reference to an article by tabloid media LovinMalta regarding new government policy aimed at making schools more inclusive. [18]

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

Electoral history

House of Representatives
Election Leader Votes  % Seats +/– Rank Status
2022 Paul Salomone 1,533 0.52%
0 / 79
 New 4th Extra-parliamentary

References
  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. {{Cite web|date= 13 May 2021|title=Partit Popolari leader against decriminalisation of abortion|access-date= 29 April 2023|url=https://tvmnews.mt/en/news/partit-popolari-leader-against-decriminalisation-of-abortion/
  3. "From ABBA to Żaren: Here's How Malta's Small Political Parties and Independent Candidates Did This Election". 29 March 2022.
  4. Vella, Matthew (20 November 2020). "Partit Popolari, led by former AN activist Paul Salomone, is latest far-right grouping". MaltaToday. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  5. Mallia, Amy (6 March 2022). "Here's What Small Political Parties In Malta Have Done In Week Two Of Their Election Campaign". Lovin Malta.
  6. "New 'Popular Party' launched". Times of Malta. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  7. "Partit Popolari, led by former AN activist Paul Salomone, is latest far-right grouping". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  8. "Jitnieda l-Partit Popolari Malti - TVM". TVM Maltese. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  9. "The Third Parties. Who are they?". A Bird's Eye View. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  10. Micallef, minn Gaetano. "Imfakkar il-71 anniversarju mill-mewt tal-eks PM u Kap tal-PN Nerik Mizzi". TVMnews.mt. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  11. "Il-Pilastri tal". Partit Popolari. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  12. "Hundreds gather in Valletta for Partit Popolari protest against COVID-19 Green Pass". Malta Daily. 16 January 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  13. "INSAĦĦU L-LIBERTÀ U NĦARSU L-BILANĊ ĠUST BEJN ID-DRITTIJIET U D-DMIRIJIET". Partit Popolari. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  14. "Parliament agrees on granting 16-year-olds right to own medical consent". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  15. "Law banning gay conversion therapy to be strengthened". Times of Malta. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  16. "Partit Popolari". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  17. "Partit Popolari". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  18. 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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