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James Debono
Labour MP Anglu Farrugia’s declaration in last week’s issue of MaltaToday that the EU constitution is objectionable because it ignores Europe’s Christian heritage has prompted former MLP deputy leader Joe Brincat to make a valorous defence of European secular values.
Brincat is the author of a report commissioned by the MLP on the legal implications of adopting the EU constitution. In his report, contrary to claims made by Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici and Anglu Farrugia, the Labour MP insists the adoption of the EU constitution would not be in breach of the Maltese constitution.
Joe Brincat simply told MaltaToday that “God requires no legislation and no Constitution.”
He pointed out that both the Italian Constitution and even the Maltese constitution make no reference to God. “Moses took care of the necessary legislation,” a sardonic Brincat added.
Joe Brincat defended the EU constitution for upholding the principle of tolerance. “I have been taught the second greatest commandment is to ‘love thy neighbour’. This does not have a proviso which says ‘provided he agrees with you’.”
The Labour MP invoked Pope John Paul II as the strongest advocate of such thinking. “It was the late Pope John Paul II who attracted the admiration and prayers of all religions. Europe, and any single country, has to respect what is a fundamental human right – freedom of religious belief.”
Ironically the same Pope invoked by Brincat had also insisted on the inclusion of a reference to God and Christianity in the constitution, but also the idea of an EU constitution.
Last week Anglu Farrugia told MaltaToday he was also objecting to the EU constitution as it paves the way for Islamic countries like Turkey to become members of European Union. Commenting on Farrugia’s stand against Turkey becoming a member of the EU Brincat insisted that such comments “jar fundamentally with (his) way of thinking.”
Brincat pointed out that there are already many Muslims practising their religion in European countries like France, Britain, and Italy.
“They are minorities which have a right to be respected and to be valued as individuals, with full rights as any other member of any other religion.”
Brincat once again invoked John Paul as a symbol of tolerance in remarking that “there are also Jews in Europe, who have histories of suffering and martyrdom, and who were decimated on the basis of their religious beliefs. Pope John Paul II had the courage of his convictions to ask for forgiveness for the sufferings inflicted on the Jews!”
Joe Brincat is in full square agreement with European socialists in objecting to a reference to God and Christianity in the Constitution. In January 2005, Party of European Socialists leader Martin Schulz recalled that the EU had been borne out of the despicable ways of fascism sixty years after the liberation of Auschwitz.
Leo Brincat enters the fray
MaltaToday asked various Labour MPs to state their opinion on the ratification of the EU constitution, with the MLP’s spokesperson on foreign affairs Leo Brincat declaring himself clearly in favour of a “qualified approval” of the EU constitution by the MLP.
“If the party does not approve the Constitution it will be surrendering to extremist elements.”
Brincat pointed out that through endorsing the constitution the party would be sending an unequivocal message reassuring floating voters, disgruntled Nationalists and all those who have embraced Labour’s adjourned position on the European Union. “Otherwise we will never be trusted by these people again.”
Noting that he is meeting a large number of people who have expressed their dissatisfaction at the PN’s failure to reap the benefits of membership, “these same people also insist that given the chance they will still vote for membership.”
Back in May 2004 Leo Brincat had expressed himself in favour of a referendum on the approval of the EU constitution. Now he says that circumstances have changed:
“Back than it was still possible to hold a referendum in conjunction with elections for the MEPs. One has to consider that a referendum is always a tool in the hands of the party in government. In this case the government is not even obliged to hold a referendum. Anyway even if the MLP had to insist on holding a referendum it will still have to give an indication to voters on how to vote.”
Leo Brincat also said that as long as Turkey fulfilled the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership, “no racist criteria should be used to keep Turkey out of the European Union, ” he said in reference to fellow MP Anglu Farrugia’s objections.
Non-committal MPs
Labour MP Evarist Bartolo is still waiting for the outcome of the discussions conducted within the parliamentary group and the general conference before taking a stand:
“We must not let this issue make the Labour Party lose the next election by losing its focus to attack government’s lack of vision, inefficiency, inability to create the right conditions for this country to have new jobs and wealth and to bring down taxation which is making life so difficult for families, pensioners and companies.”
Labour MP Joe Debono Grech declined comment pending the ongoing discussions within the party’s internal structures.
Erstwhile PM Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, writing in today’s MaltaToday (see page 24) argues that a vote in favour of the EU Constitution would mean that the Malta Labour Party would be conniving with the Nationalist government to betray Malta’s Constitution. Karmenu rebuts claims made by the MLP’s international secretary that the new EU Constitution poses no threat to Malta’s policy of active neutrality.
jdebono@newsworksltd.com
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