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James Debono
Labour MP and party spokesperson for justice Anglu Farrugia has declared strong reservations on the ratification of the EU Constitution, expressing his disagreement with the party ban on discussing the Constitution at MLP village clubs. Farrugia called for an “open and mature” discussion in the party and for political clubs to contribute to the process.
A former contender for the MLP leadership back in 2003, Farrugia however also told MaltaToday that he disagreed with the Constitution because it contains no reference to God and Christianity and that its approval will pave the way for Muslim countries like Turkey to join the European Union.
“Europe’s strength derives from Christianity. If Christianity is diluted Europe will become weaker,” Farrugia said.
He insisted that as things stand Labour MPs should either vote against the Constitution or “walk out of parliament,” adding that he is not alone in the party advocating such a stand.
Asked how he would vote in Parliament if the MLP decides in favour of ratifying the Constitution, Anglu Farrugia said this was still premature and for now he will be actively working in the party to convince delegates to vote against the Constitution. “I am definitely not alone,” Farrugia emphasised.
In this matter Anglu Farrugia is completely out of synch with the opinions expressed by the Party of European Socialists and is closer to opinions expressed by the eurosceptic faction of the European People’s Party and parties further to the right.
In October 2004 the Party of European Socialists fully supported the opening of negotiations with Turkey. PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen said “European socialists will be at the forefront of the fight to make sure the negotiations with Turkey are fair and that European citizens have an informed debate on this process.”
On the same date Nyrup Rasmussen said: “The European left will now launch a pro-active campaign to ratify the constitution in every parliamentary vote and national referendum.”
Anglu Farrugia expressed his disagreement with Dr Joe Brincat’s interpretation that the approval of the EU Constitution will not be in breach of the Maltese Constitution. “Article 11 of the Constitution speaks about the supremacy of the EU Constitution over the Constitutions of the Member States. The European Constitution can only be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Maltese parliament.”
Farrugia also added that the EU Constitution would dilute Malta’s neutrality.
He expressed his complete disagreement with the idea of having an EU Constitution, saying that Malta risked being referred to “as an island south of Sicily and not a nation-state. We will end up throwing away all vestiges of sovereignty.”
He also disagreed with Alfred Sant that a referendum should not be held on this issue: “This is a decision which will affect our children and our children’s children.”
Labour MP Leo Brincat had expressed a similar view in favour of a referendum back in May 2004. At the time Brincat was the party’s spokesperson on foreign affairs. During a press conference Brincat declared that the Constitutional treaty should be approved by a national referendum.
Party leader Alfred Sant however does not share this opinion. Sant reiterated his stand that “referenda in general are manipulative instruments in the hands of the powerful.”
In a report commissioned by the party on the political implications of ratifying the Constitution, Labour MP and former Foreign Minister George Vella has also argued against holding a referendum on this issue because “the country has not recovered yet from the upsets, divides and economic consequences experienced a few months ago when a referendum and an election were held in the space of a few weeks.”
jdebono@newsworksltd.com
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