Imperium Europa

Last updated

Imperium Europa
Leader Terrence Portelli
PresidentNorman Lowell
General SecretaryVacant
Founder Norman Lowell
Founded2000
Registered2019
Headquarters Valletta
Youth wing Malta Right-Wing Youths [1]
Ideology Right-libertarianism [2] Ultranationalism Euroscepticism
Political position Far-right
ReligionPrimarily Cosmotheism with elements of modern paganism, esoterism and mysticism
Colours
  •   Gold
  •   Red
  •   Black
SloganAve Europa nostra vera patria
AnthemAve Europa
Parliament of Malta
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European Parliament
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Party flag
Flag of Imperium Europa.jpg
Website
imperium-europa.org

Imperium Europa is an ultranationalist political party in Malta. It was founded on 9 February 2000 by Norman Lowell, who was also its leader. Its primary aim is to unite Europe into one political entity, a "Europe of regions and peoples, stretching from the Channel, to Vladivostok", in order to save the white race.

Contents

History

It was officially founded on February 9, 2000, by Norman Lowell. Initially, the party started with eight members, including Norman Lowell and Arlette Baldacchino. But later on, five out of eight of the founding members were expelled due to being sleeper agents for the Nationalist, and the Labour Parties respectively. Imperium Europa contested its first election back in 2004, obtaining 1,603 votes (0.63%). In 22 January 2005, Imperium Europa made its first and one of, if not, the most notable public event associated with the party, taking place in Safi, Malta. The event was when most of the public started taking notice of Imperium Europa. The speech consisted of Norman Lowell making a speech regarding how illegal immigration will irreversibly damage the country, as happened with other European and Western countries. With Norman Lowell quoting that "our children shall open their eyes one day.. being strangers in their own lands!". In the 2009 European Parliament election in Malta, its candidates were Norman Lowell and Reuben Cauchi. In the next election, Imperium Europa contested with three candidates, who were: Norman Lowell, Antoine Galea and Arlette Baldacchino. It was registered as a political party in 2019. [3] In the 2019 Maltese MEP elections, Imperium Europa got its record number of votes, totalling 8,238 1st preference votes (3.17%). Lowell was the only candidate representing Imperium Europa in this election. In 2024, Imperium Europa contested in Malta with Norman Lowell and Terrence Portelli on the ballot, shrinking its votes compared to the previous elections for the first time; this time obtaining 6,816 votes (2.62%), 1,422 votes less than the election before.

Norman Lowell

Norman Lowell was the party's founder and leader, having led the party continuously since its inception on 9 February, 2000. He was the sole candidate in the first European Parliament elections that were held in Malta on 12 June 2004. He obtained 1,603 first-count votes from a total of 250,691 votes cast (0.64%). In the 2009 European Parliament elections, Lowell obtained 3,359 first-count votes (a 122% increase over the 2009 MEP elections). [4] Mr. Lowell ran again in 2014 and got 7,000 votes, more than double the 2009 MEP result. In 2019, he received his best electoral result of 8,238 votes, as the only candidate representing Imperium Europa in the election. In the 2024 Maltese MEP elections he only obtained 6,669 votes, [5] with the other 147 votes for Imperium Europa going to Terrence Portelli.

Campaigning strongly against illegal immigrants, Lowell was the party's sole candidate in the March 2008 parliamentary election, contesting both the 11th and 12th Districts. He obtained 84 votes on first count from both districts, obtaining 0.03% of the overall votes.

On 9th February 2025, Terrence Portelli took over the leadership of the party. [6]

Ideology

Imperium Europa is positioned on the far-right [7] [8] [9] on the political spectrum and it has been frequently described as a neo-Nazi, [10] neo-fascist, [11] [12] right-wing populist, [13] and radical right party. [14] As stated in its program, its goal is to unite all European natives under one flag, hence the name "Imperium Europa", leading to "a Europid bond forged through spirituality (cosmotheism, not Christianity) closely followed by race, nurtured through high culture, protected by high politics, enforced by the elite." [15] Imperium Europa is also opposed to immigration. [16] Imperium Europa has connections with the French Nouvelle Droite, [17] and also with the Italian party Lega Lombarda. Its leader, Lowell, has expressed sympathy for Adolf Hitler, [18] [19] and the former United States presidential candidate Ron Paul.

Logo of Imperium's youth wing Malta Right-Wing Youths Malta Right-Wing Youths.svg
Logo of Imperium's youth wing Malta Right-Wing Youths

Party programmes

Proposal for institutional reform

The party advocates a temporary national unity government, a dual system of elitist and democratic elements in order to protect the elite minority whilst simultaneously allowing democratic freedom. This would occur by having the populace democratically elect a President, who would select experts from every field to form a technocratic Cabinet, similar to that formed by Lamberto Dini in Italy in 1995. [20]

Concurrently, there would still be the current Parliament, informing the nation of the cabinet's policies while simultaneously gathering feedback. After four years, a referendum would be held to determine whether the people want this system or go back to the parliamentary representative democratic system. If the former is chosen, the President and technocrats would carry on for another five years, while the parliamentarians would be dismissed with an attractive pension in return. [20]

Other priorities

Political activities

Public events

Imperium Europa primarily organises three activities/events, all once annually. These are: the 9th February party founding anniversary, the celebration of Lowell's birthday, taking place in the 29th July, and the commemoration of the Maltese and the Knights Hospitaller forces, obtaining a decisive victory in the Great Siege of Malta, occurring in 1565, with a wreath of flowers placed in front of the Great Siege Monument in Valletta. This activity occurs in Otto Settembre.

Media outreach

The party also uploads political and party related content on its three YouTube channels; named Maltastory, VoiceofTheNewRight and RightLibertarianMalta respectively. Party conferences and notices are also uploaded on Norman Lowell's Facebook page.

Election results

House of Representatives

Election (Elezzjoni)LeaderVotes%Seats+/–PositionGovernment
2008 Norman Lowell 840.03
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New5thextra-parliamentary

European Parliament

ElectionLeaderVotes%Seats+/–RankEP Group
2004 Norman Lowell 1,6030.65
0 / 5
NewIncrease2.svg 4th
2009 3,6371.47
0 / 6
Steady2.svg 0Steady2.svg 4th
2014 6,7612.62
0 / 6
Steady2.svg 0Steady2.svg 4th
2019 8,2383.17
0 / 6
Steady2.svg 0Increase2.svg 3rd
2024 6,8162.62
0 / 6
Steady2.svg 0Steady2.svg 3rd

References

  1. Agius, Monique (4 July 2025). "Man on bail caught in a bar". Times of Malta. Allied Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  2. "Viva Malta Forum". 2 November 2006. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011.
  3. "Imperium Europa officially becomes political party, leader Norman Lowell to run for MEP - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  4. "Department of Information". Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  5. "Electoral Commission of Malta".
  6. Portelli, Terrence. "9th February 2025 Annual Gathering". Facebook. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  7. "Far-right group leader sues weekly for libel". Times of Malta. November 2006. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  8. "Norman Lowell to contest election". Times of Malta. 11 February 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  9. Harwood, Mark (2005), Lodge, Juliet (ed.), "Malta" , The 2004 Elections to the European Parliament, London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, pp. 187–193, doi:10.1057/9780230523821_22, ISBN   978-1-4039-3518-2 , retrieved 11 January 2023
  10. "Elections européennes 2009 : poupée brune et vague populiste". Paperblog (in French). Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  11. Schmitt, Hermann; Teperoglou, Eftichia (3 July 2015). "The 2014 European Parliament Elections in Southern Europe: Second-Order or Critical Elections?". South European Society and Politics. 20 (3): 287–309. doi: 10.1080/13608746.2015.1078271 . ISSN   1360-8746. S2CID   154854512.
  12. Lorenzo De Sio, Vincenzo Emanuele, Nicola Maggini (2014). Malta : hidden change?. Roma: CISE – Centro Italiano Studi Elettorali. ISBN   978-88-98012-15-2. OCLC   938598181.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. Leusch, Caroline (7 October 2019). "Maltese exceptionalism in the populist trend". MaRBLe. 1. doi: 10.26481/marble.2019.v1.752 . ISSN   2468-0311.
  14. Political handbook of the world 2012. Tom Lansford. Los Angeles: Sage. 2012. p. 914. ISBN   978-1-4522-3434-2. OCLC   794595888.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  15. Atkins, Stephen E. (2009). Holocaust denial as an international movement. Westport, Conn.: Praeger. p. 136. ISBN   978-0-313-34539-5. OCLC   624337327.
  16. Routledge handbook of European elections. Donatella M. Viola. London. 2016. ISBN   978-1-317-50363-7. OCLC   918941246.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  17. Bar-On, Tamir (1 January 2012). "The French New Right's Quest for Alternative Modernity". Fascism. 1 (1): 21. doi: 10.1163/221162512X631198 . ISSN   2211-6249.
  18. "Police question Lowell's adherents on arson attack". Malta Today. 26 March 2006. Archived from the original on 22 April 2006. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  19. Hockenos, Paul (9 May 2019). "Is There a Secret Recipe for Preventing Far-Right Populism?". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  20. 1 2 Norman Lowell Uncut (4) Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine Maltafly.com.