MLP 'applying constitution equally with everyone'

The Labour Party yesterday said it was applying provisions in the constitution and the electoral law equally with everyone and without leaving room for abuse or privilege.

It was referring to its court application questioning Alternattiva Demokratika spokesman Arnold Cassola's right to vote, which was the subject of The Times editorial yesterday.

The MLP said this was a democratic process and finally it was the court that had to decide on the application.

AD chairman Harry Vassallo hit back by saying the MLP's leadership was once again showing it did not respect democracy.

Prof. Cassola is AD's spokesman on European Union affairs and the general secretary of the European Federation of Green Parties.

The MLP argues Prof. Cassola does not satisfy the legal requirements that would make him eligible to vote. A voter has to be resident in Malta for at least six months in the 18 months before the publication of an electoral register.

Labour said its actions stemmed from its belief in a clean, just and transparent electoral process in the absence of proactive initiatives by the Electoral Commission to ensure that the electoral register was correct at the time of publication.

The MLP held that no one was above the law and every citizen who respected his or her country had above all to respect the constitution and the laws of the country. It was in this way that one could give an example to society so that everyone would abide by the law.

It was politically dishonest of someone to issue partisan statements to foreign politicians when they knew they had no right to do so under the constitution and the electoral law.

The MLP did not believe in privileges and it referred to the "dishonest" campaign being conducted by Alternattiva Demokratika which, it said, knew that the MLP's actions were in line with the constitution and the law.

The party said it had held discussions with the Nationalist Party in order to reach an agreement over changes in the constitution and the electoral law.

An agreement had been reached that included proposed changes to the constitution so as ensure that Maltese people working abroad would have the right to vote. This, Labour said, meant it agreed that Maltese people who worked in another country should have the right to be included in the electoral register as voters.

But it had been forced to vote against the constitutional changes because the Nationalist government had failed to put forward all the amendments over which the Labour and the Nationalist parties had agreed.

The MLP said the draft agreement was included with documents that had been published in the booklet for its general conference which is to meet this month. The agreement can also be found on the MLP's website at http://mlp.org.mt/rizorsi/dokumenti/index.asp.

Dr Vassallo said that apart from its crass disrespect for the Maltese people's will in the upcoming referendum, the Labour leadership was attempting to deny Prof. Cassola's voting rights and those of numerous persons who were abroad for reasons such as work, study or missionary work.

"Through legitimate means, AD is striving to ensure that the authoritarian antics of the MLP leadership will not prevail," Dr Vassallo said.

AD said it accepted The Times editorial's valid suggestion of providing its European political contacts with more names of people whose right to vote was presently curtailed and in risk of disenfranchisement.

It said it was offering such voters the chance to register their complaint so that, together with the Green Group, it would then intervene at European levels.

AD also invited anyone who had been summoned with regards to their right to vote to submit the complaint by mail to Alternattiva Demokratika, 10, Manwel Dimech Street, Sliema; by fax on 21 571530; or e-mail: alternattiva@europe.com.