Editorial

Confusion reigns in the minds of most Labour supporters as to what exactly Dr Alfred Sant's 'partnership' proposal means. They know that it is not membership of the European Union, and for many of them that is good enough - anything, as long as it is the opposite of what the Nationalist government wants.

But, fortunately for this country, a growing number of traditionally Labour supporters can think for themselves and, increasingly, are coming to see EU membership as benefiting the country, independently of any partisan considerations. Many, including former Labour ministers and MPs, have come out into the open, giving very good reasons for their choice. Others have not yet dared do so, but may be biding their time.

However, the confusion among Labour supporters is not limited to the "merits" of the 'partnership' option: it extends to what they are expected to do to express their opposition to EU membership in the March 8 referendum. For the party has directed its supporters: a) to vote No; or b) to stay at home; or c) to invalidate their ballot paper.

No wonder Labour supporters are confused. Normally, they would be expected to vote No, as would indeed, any traditionally Nationalist supporters who, for their own reasons, are convinced that EU membership is wrong. However, the latter would probably not vote at all.

Which is why not voting at all, or spoiling one's ballot paper, cannot be taken to mean voting against. It simply means neither Yes nor No. So for the referendum to be carried or rejected, a simple Yes or No majority should be enough.

But Dr Sant and the MLP executive want to have their cake and eat it. Realising that ordering a boycott could backfire badly, especially in the localities where local elections are being held on the same day (a smart move by the PM, that), the MLP leadership is aiming to pool together all the Noes, the stay-at-homes and the spoiled ballots. They are hoping that all told, those who resort to any of the three options will outnumber those who vote Yes.

At least MLP deputy leader George Vella seems prepared to accept a Yes result if, after removing the four or five per cent who normally do not vote in a general election, the ayes will have a majority of the electorate (and not only of those who actually vote). Will Dr Sant and the rest of the leadership follow suit?

The survey carried out last week by Professor Mario Vassallo on behalf of The Sunday Times being published today shows that no less than 70.3 per cent of the electorate want the referendum's outcome to be the last word on Malta's EU membership. This contrasts with the MLP's insistence that the issue can only be settled by a general election.

But to get back to the realisation by an increasing number of Labour supporters - despite the massive campaign of scaremongering and downright lies being resorted to by their party - that EU membership is the best choice for Malta. The survey shows that support for membership goes well beyond the parameters normally enjoyed by the Nationalist Party and Alternattiva Demokratika.

Asked to identify advantages of EU membership or 'partnership' in various areas, the former consistently polled roughly twice the latter. Thus, for example, when it came to work opportunities, 64.7 per cent said these would be enhanced by membership; only 32.3 per cent by 'partnership'; commerce 68.3% (28%); quality of life 68% (29.3%) and the environment 71% (27.7%). Only in one area - opportunities for foreigners to work in Malta (55.3% to 41%) - was the score below 60 per cent.

Also telling were the findings of the credibility of various sources of information regarding EU membership. Of a given set of answers, respondents chose TVM as the most reliable with 91 points on the index, followed by Net TV and Radio 101, PN meetings and family visits by PN candidates. UHM scored 47.10, family visits by MLP candidates 24.8, MLP meetings, 17.8, Super 1 TV and radio 5.2, and the General Workers Union, minus 42.10.

This abysmally negative rating reflects not only the fact that the GWU, the MLP's faithful handmaid, has not only been conducting a totally negative campaign on EU membership, but also that it has been repeatedly accused of hiding the conclusions (favourable to EU membership) of its own reports on the impact of accession from its members.

One trusts that in the privacy of their homes, in the secrecy of the polling booth, voters will truly reflect on the truly historical choice facing them on March 8 and distinguish between facts and untruths, the realities of life in EU member states and the baseless scaremongering, between a tangible, negotiated package and pie in the sky - and make a choice, in the national interest, for the present and the future.