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I was not at all surprised that Labour MP Leo Brincat would be among the first to enter into the fray to advocate the approval of the EU Constitution, forgetting the oath of allegiance he had taken to defend, not destroy, Malta’s Republican Constitution which came into being by a former Labour government and subsequently amended by another Labour government.
I said I was not surprised because, if I remember correctly, he was the first Labour MP who came out clamouring for a change in the party’s policy vis-à-vis EU membership, only days after the general election result.
At that time my mind recalled what had been said by Dr Eddie Fenech Adami to Dr Sant at the height of the referendum campaign. He told Dr Sant that the Labour leader “had four MPS around him who had spoken publicly in favour of membership”. Labour MPs were all made to declare publicly that they were against membership and in favour of the party’s policy of ‘Partnership’. With hindsight, what else were they expected to say on the eve of a general election when their personal electoral success at the polls was on the line?
Today I strongly believe that what Dr Fenech Adami had told Dr Sant was one of the few true things he had said during the referendum and electoral campaigns.
Leo Brincat was also quoted as saying: “If the party does not approve the Constitution it will be surrendering to extremist elements”. It is very easy to accuse those who argue against the connivance of the Labour Opposition with the PN government, to spell finis to Malta’s Constitution, as being “extremists”. Should we then brand the Hon. Leo Brincat and some other MLP officials with being ‘opportunists’ or ‘appeasers’?
The truth of the matter is that Leo Brincat, as well as other officials and Party leadership are being subjected to immense pressure – not to say being coerced – by the officials of European Socialist Group in the European Parliament – as indeed are all parties in other groupings – to do their utmost to ensure that parties belonging to their group do vote in favour of ratification. This was an explicit order from the European Commission, which is helping with propaganda funding.
That this is so was revealed by none other than the Secretary of the Socialist Group, Jan Wiersma, to Ivan Camilleri way back in January 2005 (The Times, 22 January). Ivan Camilleri quoted the Socialist Group Secretary as saying that he was convinced that the MLP will be voting ‘Yes’ to the EU Constitution “following lengthy discussions with the MLP leadership”!
At that time I still harboured doubts on Jan Wiersma’s conviction. I thought that perhaps the young secretary had read more in what he was actually told. Today I am convinced that he was dead right in his conviction – that the party leadership together with MLP officials, are committed with the Group of European Socialists to do all in their power to make the party executive and delegates approve what the party leadership had already been pressed to agree to.
What do the party leadership and certain officials hope to achieve by not placing the national interest before that of the Socialist officials? Why place “another minefield” in the way of party unity (as precisely expressed by the editor of MaltaToday)? Why risk alienating a large number of Labour voters (whom Leo Brincat may erroneously believe will always do what the Party Leadership may decide on, even on such a vital issue as what remains of Malta’s sovereignty), when this issue is only vital to the PN government – to get a minimum of two-thirds backing in parliament to rid itself of a millstone which has been hanging around its neck since the Maltese Constitution was amended in 1987 entrenching the clause on neutrality? Leo Brincat and a few MLP officials and writers seem to have no qualms of conscience from giving Dr Gonzi et al what they have been praying for since 1987!
I was also aghast at how the MLP international secretary does not see any problem if Turkey, with its expected 100 million population by 2020 joins the EU. It is not a question of “racism” but of the enormous financial burden such an event will have on all member states, including tiny Malta. Not to add the problem of the free movement of people and labour, which could also have a great negative impact on our miniscule island. We are already struggling to cope with hundreds of illegal immigrants. Making them legal as the EU is working for will not lessen the problem. It will compound it. I suggest to Leo and the party leadership to truly be close to common citizens and hear what they have to say about this problem. And then form party policy on what the vast majority of people say on this problem, instead of doing the opposite.
Finally, why should the MLP vote in favour of ratification if the government has enough votes to ratify it, but without having the required votes to cast our Constitution into the dustbin? Is it just to please “floating voters” as Leo hinted, when such voters are already finding out that EU membership is much more of a burden than a benefit? Is it worth splitting the Labour camp when EU membership has nothing to do with the issue of ratification of the EU Constitution?
Surely the people (officials of the Socialist Group) who came to Malta and worked against the MLP policy of a partnership agreement, and lobbied for a ‘yes’ vote in the referendum, do not deserve the ‘respect’ which they are demanding. Rather, they deserve a resounding ‘no’ to the EU Constitution. Either by voting ‘no’ or not voting at all!
As to Dr Joe Brincat’s comment that “God needs no constitution”, may I add: And Malta needs no EU Constitution. Which, as Dr Brincat knows quite well, includes that “Pakkett jinten” (“a packet which stinks”, referring the Malta – EU Accession Treaty which now forms part of the EU Constitution). And which the Labour Opposition had voted against in parliament!
Eddy Privitera
Mosta
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