Parts of this article (those related to article) need to be updated. The reason given is: party changed its name and electoral symbol. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(June 2025)
The People's Party (Maltese: Partit Popolari, PP), also erroneously called the Popular Party by Maltese English-language media,[8] is a conservative political party in Malta. It was founded in July 2020 and is currently headed by Paul Salomone. The party has never obtained any seats in local councils or the Maltese parliament. It does not contest European elections. It is considered right-wing[9] to far-right[6][10] by certain journalists and portals, however the party opposes this characterisation, stating that their founding principles are based on the dignity of every individual. Furthermore the party also stated that their policies are similar to those of the Nationalist Party until the 2000s, and thus labeling the party as far-right would be profoundly incorrect.[11]
The People's Party was registered in July 2020 and would be launched later in November of the same year.[12] In the first annual general meeting held on 4 August 2020, Paul Salomone, who had previously contested the 2008 election on the list of National Action,[13] was confirmed leader of the party. In the 2022 general election, the first election the party participated in, contested with a total of 8 candidates in all 13 districts.[14] They received 1,533 votes (0.53%) and did not elect any of their candidates, coming in second place amongst the third parties after ADPD and fourth nationwide.
Ideologically, it is a right-wing populist and conservative party, and it opposes immigration, opposing "the abuse of the asylum system to facilitate economic migration".[16] The party's founding document, entitled Il-Pilastri tal-Partit Popolari (English: The Founding Principles of the People's Party), described it as seeking the "wider use of the referendum", promoting the principle of subsidiarity locally and at the European level, supporting "the traditional family without prejudice to the rights of non-traditional families", and seeking to "represent Malta in Europe rather than Europe in Malta".[17] The party has coupled together traditional-conservative positions with Eurosceptic and anti-immigration stances.[16]
LGBTQ
The party proposes preference of heterosexual couples over non-heterosexual couples in adoption.[18] It has also proposed the removal of government funding for gender affirming care for all ages and the raising of the minimum age to 21,[18] despite the medical age of consent being 16 in Malta.[19] The party made a Facebook post on 13 January 2023 disapproving of the government's strengthening of a law which strengthens bans on gay conversion therapy,[20] claiming that it tramples on individual liberty.[21] On 7 February 2023 another Facebook post by the party claimed that they are against "Indoctrination of our children at school",[22] in reference to an article by tabloid newspaper[citation needed] LovinMalta regarding new government policy aimed at making schools more inclusive.[23]
COVID-19 politics
On the 16 January 2022 It organized anti-green pass protests.[4] Furthermore, the party also protested against preventive measures against COVID-19, such as lockdowns and the distribution of vaccines.[14]
Abortion
The People's Party opposes abortion, and has stated that they would never support abortion. Paul Salamone said that abortion is the killing of the innocent, and he declared that if the People's Party were elected, it would do everything in its power to save the life of the unborn. He also stated that he understood the situations of women who become pregnant unintentionally or suffer from mental or financial challenges, and therefore wants to support pregnant women throughout their pregnancy. Additionally, he promised that women who wished to have an abortion would be assisted in placing their children for adoption. Moreover, parents facing financial difficulties would be provided with social assistance.[24]
Immigration
The People's Party advocates for a more restrictive immigration policy in Malta. The party opposes the government's reliance on foreign labor to sustain economic growth, arguing that this approach undermines Malta’s national identity and social cohesion. According to the party, Malta is experiencing overdevelopment and cultural decline, with increasing pressure on local workers due to an influx of cheap labor. Paul Salomone stated that he has nothing against foreigners, but believes that it should be focused stronger on their integration into Maltese society by learning the Maltese language and respecting local customs. The party also asserts that migration issues should be addressed at their origin, particularly in Africa, rather than managed at the Mediterranean border. It questions the classification of migrants who pay thousands of euros to reach Malta as economic migrants.[16]
Economy
The former party's president, Karmenu Borg, has stated that Malta should follow the example of countries that have developed ecosystems of innovation, emphasizing the importance of promoting entrepreneurship, research, and development. The People's Party advocates for an economic model focused on high value-added activities rather than one reliant on low wages.[25] Borg also noted that the party would seek to reform the social assistance system to eliminate incentives that may lead to misuse of public funds.[26]
Direct Democracy
The party advocates for enhanced direct democracy and increased citizen participation in governance. The party supports the use of referendums as a tool to ensure that the populace has a direct say in significant national decisions. The party in general advocates for a more representative parliamentary system and increased use of the referendum, to ensure that the will of the populace is being included in politics, and for the avoidance of authoritarian decisions by the governing party.[27][28] The party has already called for referendums on abortion, Gozoautonomy and the European Union, emphasizing their commitment to allowing citizens to directly influence legislative decisions.[29][30][31][32]
Activity
The party is mainly active through press conferences and statements sent to national television. It has also been jointly participating in press conferences on cost of living and social values with Catholic social teaching-inspired think tank Moviment Solidarjetà (English: Solidarity Movement), led by former Nationalist MP Edwin Vassallo.[8][33]
Gallery
People's Party Logo with Motto according to 2021 Statutes
↑ Maltese electoral law permits candidates to optionally contest a seat in two districts, not just one. For the People's Party, 8 different individuals contested the 2022 election.
↑ "Il-Pilastri tal". Partit Popolari. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2022. 4) Nemmnu f'demokrazija aktar diretta u nappoġġjaw l-użu aktar wiesa' tar-referendum bħala għodda għat-teħid tad-deċiżjonijiet importanti. Nimpenjaw ruħna bħala partit li f'kull forum li nkunu rrappreżentati fih, nużaw il-vot tagħna skont l-istruzzjonijiet mogħtija lilna mill-membri sakemm dawn ikunu konformi mal-pilastri tal-Partit.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
