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I am a Labourite. Just a member of the Malta Labour Party. No delegate. No committee member. But I must admit I am involved in the media of the Labour Party.
Today I felt putting to pen some thoughts I have been pondering about the ratification of the European Constitution. I declare openly that I voted against Malta joining the European Union.
But I ascribe fully to the decision taken by the Labour Party to respect the will of the majority of the electorate. Perhaps it would have been wiser if the MLP respected such a decision there and then once the result of the referendum was known. It resulted that such a decision to tie the membership of the European Union with the general election proved completely wrong. Perhaps, like many, I am being wise after the event.
But let bygones be bygones.
Malta is now a member of the European Union. The Malta Labour Party also is part of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament. I endorse all this.
Coming June, the Labour Party seems set to discuss the position the party should take regarding the ratification of the European Constitution.
The Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi declared that this issue should be over by June. Gonzi's way is to have the European Constitution ratified in Parliament. I find it hard to understand why such urgency and beg to differ on such a move.
I feel there are many aspects of the matter to be considered before rushing into a decision. In my opinion, the delegates of the Malta Labour Party at the extraordinary general meeting in June should be cautious where the ratification of the European Constitution is concerned. They should reflect deeply on the matter.
As I said the MLP forms part of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament. At face value, the Socialists approved in their majority a motion taken in the European Parliament urging the approval of the EU Constitution. The Labour MEPs at the time had no option but to abstain. Some Governments have yet to have a referendum on the matter. But the Socialists MEPs in their majority gave their ‘ok’ to the Constitution.
So shall we say, the MLP should follow blindly? As a matter of rule, when someone pertain to an association, club or group, though each member has every right to express his views, finally it is only fair to endorse the will of the majority. That is the essence of democracy.
I am a veteran Labourite. I have been following the MLP since my childhood way back in 1953. Space does not allow me to recount the rights and wrongs of my party and what happened since the fifties. But we know for sure that by 1979, Malta was an absolute independent republic with no strings attached to any military or naval block. In my opinion, such a situation was bliss for our island.
The Nationalist Party under the leadership of Eddie Fenech Adami always stressed that Malta place was in the European Union. The PN had every right to proclaim such a policy. The Nationalist Government after long years of waiting had finally negotiated and secured a place for Malta in the EU. The PN gained the much-needed support of the people of Malta and Gozo to sign the treaty for full membership.
There are sections or sectors within the Malta Labour Party that stress that this was achieved thanks to the way the PN propaganda machine deceived the Maltese people by projecting the European Union as the promised land.
I must admit I was disappointed that the Maltese electorate in its majority backed the PN position. But I respect the will of the people and that is way I do not agree with those within the MLP who are thoroughly still opposing what after all the Maltese people in their free will stated: our future should be within the realms of the EU.
I am not ashamed to say that I wept when the result of the EU referendum was known. I felt sorry that our island was forsaking its independence and hence with the ratification of the European Constitution, maybe our own Malta Republic Constitution will be of no significance any more. There are a lot of examples and instances which we witnessed since joining the EU in April 2003 that showed that for us there is no choice but to bow to the directives of the EU. Obviously as full members, we barely can do otherwise.
This what prompts me to urge and plead with the MLP delegates to take no concrete position on the issue of the ratification of the European Constitution. In my opinion, the MLP executive should only forward a motion in which it urge the delegates to throw the issue back to the people.
The MLP, fair enough, should discuss and debate the European Constitution as this evolved since our island membership in the EU. But in my humble opinion, the motion should declare clearly that it is a matter for the people to decide. Yes it is the duty of the MLP to embark on a campaign to explain the pros and cons of the European Constitution. To explain how our own Malta Republic Constitution will be affected and what will be the gains and pains of the matter. Then it should stop short of declaring whether it is in favour or against the said European Constitution.
The MLP should completely ignore whatever direction the PN Government wants to take regarding the Constitution, as it is very convenient for the PN to pass it through Parliament, considering its five-seat majority.
The move by the MLP to stress that the people of Malta and Gozo should have their say on the ratification of the European Constitution through a referendum will, in my opinion, be a very wise decision. Power to the people.
The MLP should not budge an inch on the matter.
The MLP should stand firm. In doing so, we will also be given space to the different opinions that might exist within our party on the ratification of the European Constitution. United we win, divided we fall.
Let the PN say we are chickening out on the matter. After all the PN adopted a strategy whereby it ignored the right of residents in Zejtun and Marsa to have their say in the election of the new local council.
So the MLP should not be ashamed to seek to bar in every democratic way the PN and PM Gonzi from having their way on the ratification of the European Constitution. In my opinion, there is only one honourable position for the MLP delegates to take: the people of Malta and Gozo should decide on the issue of the ratification of the European Constitution.
For the benefit of our island and geared on by the motto that Malta is first and foremost, the MLP should give the power to the people to declare whether the Maltese people are in favour or against the ratification of the European Constitution. The MLP will abide with any verdict of the people, whether in favour or against the Constitution. Let us not fall in the trap of believing that the European Constitution is just a trivial issue without showing the people its full effect.
When the PN was democratically elected to power way back in April 2003, it was given the mandate by the people of Malta to go ahead with the membership, at a time when the European Constitution was only being discussed. So now it is only fair that the people are given the right to decide once again, whether they agree or not with the formulated but still not ratified Constitution. A referendum is the only way to exercise such right. For the sake and future of our island, let us grow up mature. Let us give the people what is rightfully theirs: power to express themselves and decide.
Saviour Cachia
Marsascala
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