EPP in Sant's line of fire

The European People's Party came under attack by opposition leader Alfred Sant who yesterday described the group as a concoction of parties, sometimes squabbling among themselves.

The EPP-ED group in the European parliament was a mix of political parties with rightist views, some even verging on the Fascist, Dr Sant charged.

With a month to go to the European parliament elections, Dr Sant told supporters that Labour MEPs would be sitting alongside the best group in parliament.

The MLP and the European Socialists might have been on a different platform where EU membership was concerned but that "was a thing of the past", Dr Sant told a party activity in Birzebbuga.

He urged the electorate to take note of the track record of the EPP and the Socialists in the European parliament. He claimed the EPP group had voted for just 26 per cent of policies favouring the environment, a stark difference to the Socialists that had endorsed 83 per cent of pro-environment policies.

Turning to the domestic front, the Labour leader urged the electorate to realise the government was taking them for a ride.

Dr Sant sounded a dismal note on the country's economic and financial situation and warned of worse times to come.

He asked why the Nationalists had suddenly acknowledged the sorry state of entities like Enemalta, Air Malta, Sea Malta and Public Broadcasting Services when they had been in power for several years.

What was particularly worrying, Dr Sant noted, was that the workers were now getting the flak for the financial losses in these entities.

The MLP's spokesman for EU affairs, Evarist Bartolo said the government would be introducing new taxes after the June elections.

Refraining from giving specific details, Mr Bartolo also said the government was planning a series of taxes on products that went down in price recently.

Four MEP candidates that spoke during yesterday's activity sounded a triumphant note, most of them saying the MLP will win the European vote on June 12.