Moviment Patrijotti Maltin

Moviment Patrijotti Maltin (abbreviated as MPM; transl. "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.[1] The party has been described as far-right for its opposition to immigration and Islam in Malta.[4][2]

Moviment Patrijotti Maltin
AbbreviationMPM
LeaderSimon Borg
Founded8 April 2016 (2016-04-08)[1]
IdeologyCultural nationalism
Right-wing populism[2]
Anti-multiculturalism
Social Conservatism
Anti-Islam[2][3]
Anti-immigration[2]
Political positionRight-wing to Far-right[4][2]
House of Representatives
0 / 67
European Parliament
0 / 6
Website
patrijottimaltin.org

The party's founder Henry Battistino remains a major influence on the party's agenda, it is an anti-establishment party that opposes multiculturalism.

History

The MPM was founded on the 8 April 2016 and immediately announced its application to the Electoral Commission as a new political party under the Financing of Political Parties Act.[1][5] In the 2017 Maltese general election, the party failed to elect any candidate in parliament.

Positions

MPM opposes the integration of migrants with culturally different backgrounds into the 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] It also opposes the Maltaese government's endorsement of the non-binding Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.[7]

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.[8] 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.[9] Florian later caused controversy when he outed a counter-protester from the Buġibba protest as transgender.[10]

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".[8] 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.[11]

Election results

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

European Parliament elections
Election Party leader Votes % Seats +/– Position
2019 Simon Borg 771 0.30
0 / 6
 New 7th

References
  1. "Min Aħna". Moviment Patrijotti Maltin (in Maltese). 1 April 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  2. Tim Diacono. "Far-right leaders make pitch for return to 'traditional Maltese, Christian values'". MaltaToday. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  3. Yannick Pace (4 January 2017). "On the right, Maltese conservatives still unable to find common ground". MaltaToday. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  4. Sansone, Kurt (18 December 2016). "Expect a long ballot sheet next general election". Times of Malta. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  5. "FINANCING OF POLITICAL PARTIES ACT". 1 January 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2017. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. "Moviment Patrijotti Maltin call for referendum on integration". The Malta Independent. 30 December 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  7. Carabott, Sarah (12 December 2018). "Moviment Patrijotti call on government to withdraw from Migration Compact". Times of Malta. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  8. 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.
  9. Leone Ganado, Philip (9 October 2016). "Prayer is a human right, self-proclaimed patriots told during protest". Times of Malta. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  10. "Patrijotti official Stephen Florian apologises for outing transgender person". Times of Malta. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  11. "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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