Gozo Civic Council referendum, 1973
Encyclopedia
The Gozo Civil Council Referendum was held in Malta
on Sunday, 11 November 1973.
The referendum was facultative and non-binding and only voters registered in Gozo
were allowed to vote. So far, this is the only referendum held in Malta which was limited to a part of the electorate.
on 14 April 1961, the first experiment in civil local government in Malta since the French occupation of 1798-1800. The law authorised the Council to raise taxes, although it never actually made use of this power.
In 1971 the Labour Party was voted into office. As its support in Gozo was weak and it favoured a more centralised administration it proposed a referendum on the abolishment of the Council putting emphasis on the unpopular possibility of it raising taxes.
and Gozitan affairs became the direct responsibility of the Office of the Prime Minister.
In the mid-1980s attempts were made to set up a Gozo committee, chaired by the Prime Minister
and with the Gozitan Members of Parliament
as members. However, it was only in 1987 that the Ministry of Gozo was set up (demoted to a Parliamentary Secretariat between 1996 and 1998). Local government in the Gozitan localities was restored with the introduction of Local councils
in 1993 with Gozo having 14 councils. However, since that time no other directly-elected body, or civic council, has been established.
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
on Sunday, 11 November 1973.
The referendum was facultative and non-binding and only voters registered in Gozo
Gozo
Gozo is a small island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Southern European country of Malta; after the island of Malta itself, it is the second-largest island in the archipelago...
were allowed to vote. So far, this is the only referendum held in Malta which was limited to a part of the electorate.
Background
The Gozo Civic Council had been set up as a statutory local Government in the island of GozoGozo
Gozo is a small island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Southern European country of Malta; after the island of Malta itself, it is the second-largest island in the archipelago...
on 14 April 1961, the first experiment in civil local government in Malta since the French occupation of 1798-1800. The law authorised the Council to raise taxes, although it never actually made use of this power.
In 1971 the Labour Party was voted into office. As its support in Gozo was weak and it favoured a more centralised administration it proposed a referendum on the abolishment of the Council putting emphasis on the unpopular possibility of it raising taxes.
Question
The referendum question (in English) was as follows:- "Do you want Gozo to remain different from Malta, that is, not only having its own representatives in Parliament, chosen from Gozo, but also representatives in the Gozo Civic Council which, amongst other powers, has that of imposing special taxes on the Gozitans to be spent according to the wishes of the people of Gozo?"
Results
| Voters | Voted | Invalid votes | Valid votes | For | Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15,621 | 195 (1.25%) | 17 | 178 | 137 (76.97%) | 41 (23.03%) |
| Source: Referenda in Malta: The Questions and the Voters' Responses | |||||
Outcome
Despite the low turnout the Government proceeded with its plans to abolish the Gozo Civic Council. Government administration in Gozo was centralised in VallettaValletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
and Gozitan affairs became the direct responsibility of the Office of the Prime Minister.
In the mid-1980s attempts were made to set up a Gozo committee, chaired by the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Malta
The Prime Minister of Malta is the Head of Government of Malta.-Establishment of the office and developments:The office of "Head of Ministry" was created as soon as Malta was granted autonomous government in 1921. The 1921 constitution was suspended twice before being revoked...
and with the Gozitan Members of Parliament
House of Representatives of Malta
The House of Representatives is the unicameral legislature of Malta and a component of the Parliament of Malta.The House is composed of an odd number of members elected for a five year term...
as members. However, it was only in 1987 that the Ministry of Gozo was set up (demoted to a Parliamentary Secretariat between 1996 and 1998). Local government in the Gozitan localities was restored with the introduction of Local councils
Local councils of Malta
Since 1993, Malta has been subdivided into 68 local councils or localities . These form the most basic form of local government and there are no intermediate levels between it and the national level...
in 1993 with Gozo having 14 councils. However, since that time no other directly-elected body, or civic council, has been established.