Moviment Patrijotti Maltin

Moviment Patrijotti Maltin
Abbreviation MPM
Leader Henry Battistino[1]
Founded 8 April 2016 (2016-04-08)[2]
Ideology Maltese nationalism
Right-wing populism[3]
Anti-Islam[3][4]
Anti-immigration[3]
Political position Far-right[1][3]
European affiliation Movement for a Europe of Nations and Freedom (observer)
House of Representatives
0 / 65
European Parliament
0 / 6
Website
patrijottimaltin.org

Moviment Patrijotti Maltin (abbreviated as MPM; lit. "Maltese Patriots Movement") is a nationalist and anti-immigration political party in Malta. It was founded in April 2016 as the political wing of the anti-immigration group Għaqda Patrijotti Maltin.[2] The party has been described as far-right for its opposition to immigration and Islam in Malta.[1][3]

Since its foundation, the leader has always been Henry Battistino who is a major influence on the party's agenda. It is an anti-establishment party, and opposes multiculturalism. Party members have showed hostility to Maltese journalists and reporters.

History

The MPM was founded on 8 April 2016 and immediately announced its application to the Electoral Commission as a new political party under the Financing of Political Parties Act.[2][5] In the 2017 Maltese general election, the party failed to elect any candidate in parliament.

Positions

MPM opposes integration of migrants into Maltese society, calling for European Union funds allocated to Malta for the purpose be instead allocated for the benefit of Maltese people and for Malta to no longer be a member of the Schengen Area.[6]

Additionally the party has opposed the presence of Islam in Malta. At an October 2016 protest led by the party against the possible opening of a Muslim prayer room in Buġibba, leader Henry Battistino called for a national registry of Muslims and compared Muslim immigrants to rabbits breeding excessively.[7] Stephen Florian, an MPM party official, also spoke at the protest and stated that any religion other than Roman Catholicism should only have one place of worship in the country.[8] Florian later caused controversy when he outed a counter-protestor from the Buġibba protest as transgender.[9]

MPM is frequently hostile toward media and the Maltese establishment, with Battistino referring to the media as traitors that are trying to "force [integration] down everyone's throats".[7] The party's sister organisation, Għaqda Patrijotti Maltin, was the subject of a complaint from the Institute of Maltese Journalists for protesters obstructing reporters from doing their job.[10]

Election results

General elections

Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Government
2017 Henry Battistino 1,117 0.36
0 / 67
 New 5th extra-parliamentary

References

  1. 1 2 3 Sansone, Kurt (18 December 2016). "Expect a long ballot sheet next general election". Times of Malta. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "Min Aħna". Moviment Patrijotti Maltin (in Maltese). 1 April 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Tim Diacono. "Far-right leaders make pitch for return to 'traditional Maltese, Christian values'". MaltaToday. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  4. ↑ Yannick Pace (4 January 2017). "On the right, Maltese conservatives still unable to find common ground". MaltaToday. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  5. ↑ "FINANCING OF POLITICAL PARTIES ACT". 1 January 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  6. ↑ "Moviment Patrijotti Maltin call for referendum on integration". The Malta Independent. 30 December 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  7. 1 2 Schembri, Gabriel; Bonnici, Julian (9 October 2016). "'You're all dirty' remarks demonstrator during protest against Bugibba prayer room". The Malta Independent. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  8. ↑ Leone Ganado, Philip (9 October 2016). "Prayer is a human right, self-proclaimed patriots told during protest". Times of Malta. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  9. ↑ "Patrijotti official Stephen Florian apologises for outing transgender person". Times of Malta. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  10. ↑ "IĠM asks for steps to be taken against "patriots" who obstructed journalists while on duty". TVM News. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
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