Updated: Mifsud Bonnici hails Irish rejection of EU treaty
(Adds reference to Joseph Muscat's position at end paragraph)
Former Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, leader of the Campaign for National Independence (CNI) today welcomed the Irish referendum “no” on the EU’s Lisbon reform treaty and said he was sure more countries would have rejected the treaty had the people been given a choice.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici said he shared the view expressed by several prominent EU leaders that the Lisbon treaty was now dead. It was wrong, he insisted, for others to act like nothing had happened and to insist that other countries continued the ratification process.
The main reasons for the Irish rejection, he said, was that the EU was taking over far too many powers from sovereign states. Furthermore, in terms of the EU treaty, the EU would increasingly take decisions on the basis of a majority rather than unanimity, even when such decisions affected the people directly.
Furthermore, the EU was being increasingly militarised.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici strongly criticised the Maltese Parliament for having ratified the Lisbon treaty after just three hours of debate. The treaty, he said, would not have been referred to national parliaments if they were only expected to rubber stamp it, as Malta had done.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici said the Irish in rejecting the treaty had acted according to EU rules and it would therefore be a mistake for the other countries to carry on regardless, because it would be they who would be breaking the rules. Imposing decisions over the people’s heads amounted to democratic fraud.
When it was pointed out to Dr Mifsud Bonnici that the MLP’s new leader Joseph Muscat had expressed his disappointment by Ireland’s decision to reject the treaty in a referendum, Dr Mifsud Bonnici said he absolutely disagreed with that position.
“I never agreed, I don’t agree and never can agree, because it (the treaty) goes against the democratic principles of the majority,” he stressed.
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In Discussion
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Francis Attard
Jun 18th 2008, 07:56
Your soldiers are diminishing Dr.Mifsud Bonnici. Even Toni Abela deserted you. It's the same old story: 'Viva chi regna' (ghax b'hekk tista takkwista xi haga). During my childhood years we used to tease each other, when we changed support to football teams according to their successes, by calling each other 'Pinnuri', because the word 'Ipokriti' had not yet entered in our very limited vocabulary.
Don't give up Karm. 'Finche c'e` vita c'e` speranza'. At least you are consistent. I admire you for that.
Robert Scullion
Jun 16th 2008, 23:54
With regards to the referendum in Ireland it should be pointed out to people here didn't get the full information. There was a lot of scare tactics used by the no side (legalised abortions, increased Corporation Tax, legalised prostitution, forced military conscription) which bogged down the entire debate, and are entirely not true. There was also a protest vote where some groups around the country campaigned for a no vote to stop hospital closures.
The main issue with the Lisbon treaty was it's legal terminology which meant that people couldn't understand easily enough, and as a result the yes side where continually on the back-foot during the whole campaign.
Also in response to A Daley, the Lisbon treaty has no impact on foreign policy (countries could still take a different line from one another if they wished), social security/pensions (up to each individual country), harmonisation of taxes (this is a current French proposal, and is unrelated to the Lisbon treaty .. also apart from the UK - Ireland, Baltic states, Eastern Europe countries all disagreed with the French proposal)
philip pace
Jun 16th 2008, 23:27
Welcome to the circus.
So now some REAL TRUTH IS EMERGING ON HOW MOUNT OLYMPUS WOULD LIKE TO STIFLE THE MEMBER STATES OF THIS GREAT UTOPIAN CLUB CALLED THE EUROPEAN UNION.
Maybe the audience of the big circus would REALLY think on the big con that happened in Malta in 2003/4 and realise what a whopping mistake they did when they believed that the European Union was the promised land where everything is great and that their children have a rosy future in Utopia.
You have yourselves to blame as you believed in the unreachable promises.
Ireland did well and we need more Irelands in Europe.
Any more bananas?
Maria Dolores Fenech
Jun 16th 2008, 22:51
@A Farrugia
......who's in command at the MLP KMB or JM?
Do you live in Malta Mr Farrugia? If yes, then you seem to be the only person in Malta that doesn't know that MEP Dr Joseph Muscat is MLP's leader. KMB is leader of the CNI. Shooting the moon?
Paul Sciberras
Jun 16th 2008, 19:41
So now if the Irish People choice is not respected means: The YES referendum which the Maltese People voted for, can be sidelined and any Governing Party in Malta can apply to leave the EU without another Referendum.
Alexander Barbara
Jun 16th 2008, 18:17
KMB, I hope that you remember what kind of psychological damage you did to us at that time students at the government schools, when you launched one of the ridiculous mission of “Jew b’xejn jew xejn”. In case you do not recall I will get you there. Our teachers went out on a 2 month strike, and since also at that time my father was unemployed he couldn’t afford send me to private lessons to keep up with my o- levels. And that was the end of my school. Now each morning I wake up I always remember, I cannot forget, and I will continue to remember till my last day of my life. Thank you very much indeed.
Kamal Awad
Jun 16th 2008, 17:55
Dear A Daley
Good day mate.
I must admit, I agree with most of your accurate comments. Thank you
IRE-LAND
Many European Governments (including Malta) - whose peoples might reasonably have expected a referendum - have deliberately engineered to avoid one, believing that the people would vote this treaty down as the French and Dutch did in 2005. No broad consensus, then, in those countries either. This means the Democracy deficit gap is getting deeper.
What actually worries me the fact that many European Citizens still are not familiar with the whole thing of EU.
How many bothered to read the Lisbon treaty? Or even knew it exists? I made my own survey (among university students) and I had a big shock!
Mario Gauci
Jun 16th 2008, 16:10
KMB - please do us all a favour and stay in retirement. We've heard enough of your rhetoric throughout the years. Your opinions have truly passed their sell-by date!
A Daley
Jun 16th 2008, 15:57
The fact remains that if all EU countries (including Malta) had to put this treaty to a referendum, they will all vote NO.
Harmonising is one thing, but taking away the decisions from Central Govt. to the one is Brussels is not on. The British Labour Party is only in favour to ratify, (Conservatives are still against) because in 80% of the treaty the British obtained opt-outs, like security, foreign policy, social security, pensions, employment regulations, benefits, harmonisation of taxes, and much more.
The biggest turmoil for the EU would come if in two years time there is a Conservative Govt. in Britain. They will put the whole palava of the EU to a referendum and if people vote no, (as they would), out goes Britain, one of the biggest contributors to the EU coffers. The next would be the French, cause even they are getting fed up of the so called EU liberalisation, which is destroying their Govt. funded Industry. Europe cannot be run like the USA. This is what Brussels are aiming for, the United States of Europe. God forbid.
In favour of against EU,. At this stage it is irrelevant.
Joseph Grech-Attard
Jun 16th 2008, 14:24
@A. Farrugia
On a similar note whose side is Dr. Gonzi on: John Dalli or Louis Deguara? At least Dr Muscat spoke directly about his position.
ivan scicluna
Jun 16th 2008, 13:08
@ A. Farrugia. There is nothing for Joseph Muscat to come clean about. If Mr. Farrugia read today's The Times he would have read the "disappointment expressed by Lawrence Gonzi and Joseph Muscat" for the non-ratification of the Lisbon Treaty by the Irish. KMB is "old Labour" and he has a right for his conservative views on European integration. Nothing will stop Joseph Muscat and his team from integrating the MLP in the mainstream Party of the European Socialists. Joseph's vision for Malta is crystal clear, he want Malta to be the best in the European Union.
A Farrugia
Jun 16th 2008, 13:01
Instead of Gonzi explaining or coming clean on JPO's affiar, Muscat has better talk straight about who's in command at the MLP. KMB or JM? Labourites are at a cross roads who to believe. KMB who is life member of the MLP or JM present leader of the MLP? Come clean Joseph about KMB.