News • 02 March 2003

We will interpret the result

Jimmy Magro, the secretary general of the MLP, refuses to state whether his party would recognise the outcome of the referendum before the result is known. He tells Ray Abdilla that the MLP faces a democratic deficit in favour of the ‘yes’ campaign

The Labour party has long been stating that it will ignore the outcome of the referendum,

I ask Secretary General to clarify Labour’s position.

"The Malta Labour Party will interpret the result of the referendum after the official results are known.

"I can’t state today what the MLP stand would be, but whatever the outcome the MLP will discuss the result of the consultative referendum and make a public announcement about our analysis.

"Obviously I am confident that many more people understand that a ‘no’ vote, an abstention or invalidating the ballot paper, is the best option for this country at present. But any result will be discussed by the MLP to see were people stand," Magro tells me.

Magro believes that without any doubt there is a democratic deficit working against the Malta Labour Party for the 8 March referendum.

"The government can rely on MIC, the EU information centre, which operates with taxpayers’ money; the visits and statements of foreigners who either work within the EU or have an interest in Malta becoming a member. The costs of such visits are also paid through our taxes."

The MLP General Secretary says "these visitors come to Malta with a mission: to manipulate public opinion in favour of full membership."

Magro argues that this was not a fair game and the EU, as a democratic entity, should know better than to contribute about Lm200,000 in a propaganda exercise to try to convince the people to vote ‘yes’.

Magro attacks the government for holding a referendum that is not binding on the eve of a general election. He insists that it was scandalous for the government to use public funds for its ‘yes’ campaign.

He asks why the government has not yet told the Maltese people that the 8 March referendum date was forced on Malta by Brussels.

"Being the first country to hold a referendum on EU accession has made it imperative for the EU to help the government more," Magro contends.

"The EU is clearly very eager for Malta to have a ‘yes’ vote in Malta so that referenda in other countries on accession will also be positive."

The reason the MLP believes this is a futile referendum is that there is no such thing as a referendum that is binding according to the constitution. The constitution only allows abrogative referenda, ones that can remove a law or part of a law.

I ask Magro why the Party was taking such an active part lobbying against EU membership if it does not believe in the referendum. The MLP General Secretary says it was imperative for the party to explain what is happening in the country.

"Our party has the duty to explain to the workers, self-employed persons and all sectors of the community that a partnership with the EU is a better option than full membership.

"We are not closing any doors because if the conditions change in favour of Malta, then we can consider moving on further in our relations. But we first need to have the assurance that Malta will be better off.

"There are countries that will join at a later stage, and that quashes the PN argument that it is either now or never. The PN states that we are the ones who are trying to frighten people, but with its ‘now or never’ statement it is the PN that is scaremongering."

Quizzed on whether the ‘partnership’ option exists or not, Magro says the EU has a number of agreements with countries that are not full members. "We will start negotiating with the EU for a special agreement after the next general election."

Magro contents the agreement would not be modelled entirely on the ones that Norway or Switzerland have. "Our economy is somewhat different so we will negotiate for an agreement that suits our economic and social dimension. As well as our geo-political position."

"EU gurus want to sell the idea that it is better to join than stay out but. But if a party wins an election and wants a different relationship than full membership, the EU would accede to that request.

"The EU, because of its democratic credentials, has always agreed to discuss agreements with governments which are elected in a democratic manner.

"The MLP has kept an eye on what has been happening in the EU and the Opposition is represented at the Convention on the Future of Europe launched at the Laeken summit last year."

"Europe as a concept, is a political reality, it is nobody’s monopoly," Magro explains.

"It was the MLP that, over the years, introduced and promoted European values in Malta," Magro adds, mentioning the introduction of the vote for women, youths, the establishment of the Maltese Republic and freedom of trade unionism.

Magro explains why the MLP is participating in the Convention: "It is a consultative Convention; within each national delegation on each side of the political spectrum represents itself and no more; the MLP will insist that Europe must be more pluralistic – ‘a Europe of diversity, flexibility and tolerance.’

"The MLP is also speaking in favour of the partnership option in the EU rather than full membership. These proposals have already found considerable support as outlined in the proposed constitution for Europe.

"Once in government," Magro concludes, Labour will examine the state of negotiations between Malta and the EU and would determine what is coherent with Labour’s policy."

I ask Jimmy Magro whether he feels the MLP was a democratic party and one that allowed diversity of opinion.

Magro replies the MLP has always been a democratic party, but all persons holding an office in the MLP structures, and that includes members of parliament and even persons elected on the local councils and representing the MLP should abide by the party’s policies.

"If someone wants to change the MLP’s policies, the process should be to try to convince the MLP delegates that their new proposal is the right option."

The MLP General Secretary said the Party couldn’t accept people pulling ropes in different directions.

"It is not right for an MLP representative to try and take a totally different party stand" Magro stresses.

"During MLP national executive meetings all policies are discussed and before each election, we agree on the direction the party should take, and we expect our representatives to toe the party line."

Magro holds the MLP is a party that besides having a soul also has a mind and is very much alive and kicking. To keep that momentum the party is continually involved in internal and external discussions regarding policy reviews.

In the UK Prime Minister Tony Blair faces a revolt from his own members of parliament, and I ask Magro whether the MLP would tolerate that degree of dissension.

Magro replies that the circumstances in Britain are totally different.

"A party in the UK can easily have more than a 100 seat majority in parliament so diversity is more tolerated whereas in Malta one often ends up governing the country with only a one seat majority.

"But England is different in other respects too for example, a government can’t use money from the taxpayers coffers to influence a decision, like a referendum."

Back to Malta and the local councils elections, Magro says he is satisfied with his party’s work and that on average the MLP councils are maintaining 92 per cent of their promises. He said the MLP Councillors work for the good of each locality and the citizens.

"Unfortunately in localities such as Zabbar and Gudja and most of the local councils which boast a Labour majority, the government is not helping. In some cases the Labour Councillors are experiencing more disruption."