Valletta (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Malta’s youngest MEP, Thomas Bajada, drove to get elected in his first-ever political movement having paid the least of all six elected Maltese MEPs.
How Did Thomas Bajada Achieve Success with Minimal Spending?
At an expense of €14,860, the young Gozitan was elected Labour’s third MEP at 30, with a drive whose advertising power was squarely invested in Facebook and Instagram ads. Data from the Electoral Commission, so far public only for the six elected MEPs, offers Bajada spent almost €6,000 in ads, especially from Meta. Another €4,900 was spent on hire costs for campaign rallies. And small contributions from coffee mornings gave Bajada a little €1,100 float.
Like most of the other MEP returns, it is uncertain that MEPs self-financed their drives, cushioning them with small contributions collected throughout their activities. Invoices or VAT receipts for all costs were presented to the Electoral Commission.
What Were the Key Expenses for Malta’s Highest-Spending MEPs?
All MEPs also maintained their total spend below the €50,000 threshold: Labour MEP Daniel Attard, like Bajada a first-time MEP and contender, was the second lowest prodigal at €25,7338. But he worked to clear €12,701 in donations throughout his movement: namely, €1,905 at two receptions, €2,755 from two buffet dinners, a huge €6,792 from two coffee mornings, and €1,248 from two pasta nights.
Why Did Some MEPs Spend Much More on Their Campaigns?
The most elevated spending MEP was Labour incumbent Alex Agius Saliba, who paid €48,800 for his campaign – nearly €30,000 was spent on hire costs funding his grand rallies, set up by TEC, and with significant costs for lighting, staging, live-streaming, and large flag printing. An additional €8,200 was paid for press advertising and social media ads.
Agius Saliba also gathered over €9,300 during fundraising occasions. From the Nationalist side, newly-elected MEP Peter Agius paid just over €44,300 for his campaign, with significant expenses of €10,000 in printing, €12,000 in press and social media ads, €4,400 in postage, and over €16,000 for campaign possibilities. Agius also ensured €6,000 in donations throughout his campaign. Incumbent David Casa paid over €44,700 but registered no donations. Casa spent over €25,800 in press and social media ads, with at most negligible €15,000 of that spent in Facebook adverts.
European Parliament president Roberta Metsola paid just over €46,000 and ordered €4,000 in donations during a campaign rally. Metsola paid over €9,100 in ads, €10,00 in hire costs, and then another €20,000 in drive ‘miscellaneous’ expenses, which were categorised as audiovisual costs and rally costs.
