Iva Movement to hold 'United for Europe' activity

The Iva Movement yesterday wondered out loud what scaremongering tactic the no lobby had up their sleeve for the last week of the European Union referendum campaign.

Addressing a press conference in Floriana, Iva's main spokesman, Joanna Drake said the biggest battle her organisation had was to counteract the gross misinformation, untruths and intimidation by the no camp on a daily basis.

Dr Drake said she was not surprised that the Labour leader was now using workers as a political pawn in order to foment fear about membership.

The no lobby's other scare tactics had, after all, been dispelled - these included the claim that foreigners would invade Malta, that membership would spell doom to agriculture, factories and the self-employed, that overtime would have to stop, that abortion would be introduced, and that the Maltese would have to go to fight wars.

On the other hand, she maintained, a no vote would translate into isolation and a direct blow to the economy and to Malta's credibility in general.

She said those opposing membership had managed to concoct at least three different foreign policies in the last few years - a free trade area and the so-called Switzerland in the Mediterranean and "partnership" alternatives.

"Let's not abdicate this responsibility of voting next Saturday. Let's use our minds and not merely follow what party leaders say," she urged.

The movement announced it would be holding a national meeting at the Ta' Qali tent tomorrow with the theme United for Europe.

Representatives from different organisations have been invited to speak.

Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami will conclude the meeting.