CNI to take part in 'no' campaign in Ireland

Two CNI representatives and another one from Neutro, another anti-EU membership lobby, will be going to Ireland to assist in the "no" campaign currently being held there for the upcoming referendum.

CNI secretary Tony Agius Decelis and the group's PR official Sharon Ellul Bonici, together with Jesmar Baldacchino, from Neutro, will be taking part in the "no" roadshow to convince people to vote against the treaty.

This will be the second referendum on the treaty. In the first 53.87 percent voted "no". The turnout was 35 per cent.

Mr Agius Decelis argued at a press conference that the holding of another referendum in Ireland showed how undemocratic the EU was "as instead of accepting the people's decision it imposed another referendum," he said.

"Once people decide, they should not be asked to vote again on the same topic, not unless a considerable time has elapsed," Mr Agius Decelis said.

Asked whether the CNI believed Maltese political parties should respect the results of the Maltese referendum, Mr Agius Decelis said the "yes" campaign in Malta was too powerful and its message too strong compared to that of the "no" campaign. Therefore, the outcome of the referendum would not be fair.

Ms Ellul Bonici said people did not have a clear picture of what EU membership implied. She said CNI would campaign for people to vote 'no' in the Maltese referendum.

She held that the outcome of a referendum would only be considered to be in favour of membership if the number of those in favour exceeded 50 + 1 per cent of those eligible to vote. CNI would consider both those who vote "no" and those who abstain to be against membership.

In a meeting with the President last week, CNI chairam Albert Leone Ganado described the referendum as "the highest means of the people's wishes".