politics
Election Flights Cost Nearly €3 Million for 1,530 Voters
Subsidised flights laid on for overseas voters ahead of May's general election cost the government just under €3 million, with 1,530 people using the scheme at a reduced fare of €90 each, the Electoral Commission has reported.
The Electoral Commission has reported that subsidised flights for overseas voters ahead of the May general election cost the government just under €3 million. A total of 1,530 people travelled to Malta at a heavily reduced return fare of €90, inclusive of taxes.
National carrier KM Malta Airlines collected €2,981,921 for operating the scheme, meaning the public subsidy per passenger far exceeded the fare each voter actually paid. The arrangement is a longstanding feature of Maltese electoral practice, aimed at enabling citizens abroad to cast their vote.
The figures raise broader questions about the cost-effectiveness of the scheme relative to the number of voters it reaches. With fewer than 1,600 people using the service, the average cost per passenger borne by the state stands at well over €1,900.
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