PM lashes out at MLP's 'fabrications'

Labour Party leaders' "fabrications" over the EU had reached "rock bottom" and they had no credibility, the prime minister charged yesterday.

The MLP leadership's allegations and scaremongering were constantly being rebutted, yet they persisted in giving the electorate a false picture, Eddie Fenech Adami said.

But despite this negative campaign, he was optimistic the majority of the Maltese would vote with their heads in the referendum.

Speaking during a Nationalist Party activity in Swieqi, Dr Fenech Adami said the latest MLP billboard, which carries the slogan L-Ewwel Int (You come first), showed up the egoistic stand being taken by Labour.

He had also been stunned by a declaration made by Labour deputy leader George Vella, who warned against wage increases.

Such strategies were reminiscent of the days of Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, when a wage freeze was in force.

He had been equally astonished that the normally vociferous General Workers' Union had not reacted loudly to Dr Vella's statement.

Asked how he intended to interpret the referendum result, especially following the MLP's directive to the electorate to vote 'no', abstain, or nullify their vote, Dr Fenech Adami said the answer was simple: "In any democracy it's the yes and no votes only which are counted," he said to applause.

The MLP directive was a confirmation that it had given up on winning the referendum.

He said it was a pity that the appeal he had made for the campaign to be sincere had fallen on deaf ears and that both the Labour Party and the GWU were out to instil unjustified fear in the electorate.

Transport Minister Censu Galea spoke of the financial aid granted by the EU to improve roads. The EU would provide some Lm14 million over three years.

A surprise video clip was that of actress Eileen Montesin, who urged the electorate to forget their political differences and vote with their minds after weighing the pros and cons.

Although remaining non-committal, Ms Montesin said that most of her concerns had been answered.

Other speakers included economist John C. Grech, who warned that a 'no' vote on March 8 would result in Malta's isolation and marginalisation.