Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
Labour MEP candidate raises eyebrows in Brussels
The candidature of self-confessed Eurosceptic Sharon Ellul Bonici on Labour's ticket for June's MEP elections is raising eyebrows in Brussels, particularly in the Socialist camp.
Sources said Ms Ellul Bonici's candidacy for the Party of European Socialists (PES) group in the EP was "not at all welcomed" by senior members of the group's presidency, a message that has already been communicated to the Labour Party in Hamrun.
"We are very surprised that Ms Ellul Bonici, who until a few weeks ago was working with the Eurosceptics in the EP, found herself on Labour's list of candidates. We can't understand how the party accepted her nomination in the first place," a senior PES official said.
Officially, the PES did not react to questions sent by The Times on this issue. Asked whether Ms Ellul Bonici's controversial candidacy was raised with Labour, the PES's chief spokesman Armin Machmer preferred not to comment.
Ms Ellul Bonici's last employer, the Eurosceptic Independence/Demo- cracy group, which represents the most extreme anti-EU MEPs, is trying to distance itself from her decision, saying she was only employed on contract and had stopped her services a few weeks ago.
Group spokesman Gawain Towler said his group used to employ the services of Ms Ellul Bonici as a political consultant, mainly on political campaigns. The group employs Ms Ellul Bonici's husband as part of its administration.
Her decision comes in the wake of one of her latest campaigns, which she organised for the Eurosceptics against the Lisbon Treaty in Strasbourg.
Ms Ellul Bonici confirmed she had resigned as soon as she was confirmed as a PL candidate, although she added that she had some pending work she was concluding.
When contacted, she said she was unaware that her decision to contest on the Labour ticket was unwelcome in Brussels. "The last time I met the PES Group's president, Martin Schultz, at the PES congress in Madrid, he said he was looking forward to working with me."
It seems Ms Ellul Bonici's candidature is also being criticised by some Labour delegates, especially those in the third district. Before the last general election, these delegates had officially written to the party's vigilance board to ensure Ms Ellul Bonici was not allowed to contest.
The same delegates complain that allowing Ms Ellul Bonici to contest as an MEP candidate would be sending the wrong message to the electorate, particularly in the light of Labour's new pro-EU stance.
"Joseph Muscat thinks he still needs to use Ms Ellul Bonici to get the votes of Labourites who are still against the EU," said a party official, who did not wish to be named.
Ms Ellul Bonici was the founder of the NO2EU campaign before Malta's EU referendum and has resided in Brussels for the past five years. Apart from a short stint as a parliamentary assistant to Labour MEP John Attard Montalto, she has always worked for the Eurosceptic group.
Asked whether she still considers herself to be a Eurosceptic, Ms Ellul Bonici said the word has different meanings to different people. "If you meant to ask whether I still view the EU with a critical eye, then yes, I still do, especially when we are treated differently from other countries," she said.
Ms Ellul Bonici declined to say whether, if unelected, she would return to her consultancy job with the Eurosceptics in Brussels.
"My focus is to be elected to work for the interests of the Maltese," she said.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
16 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
P.Schembri
Feb 8th 2009, 09:08
Of course she'll raise some eyebrows. She has learnt the ropes and the wheelings and dealings happening far from the public eye. She has learnt what the real bureaucratic EU is. And she's ready to spill the beans and act for our nation. She wants what is good for Malta, and is no lackey. No wonder she's raising eyebrows, not like our PN lackeys.
David Zarb
Feb 7th 2009, 19:07
It's easy to write an article without citing its author, the unnamed sources etc. Perhaps the aim of all this is to give a push for the PN candidates. I would have expected a more ethical approach and professional journalism from The Times.
However it's no news, that once again, articles found in The Times are only aimed at praising the PN.
victor caruana
Feb 7th 2009, 17:02
Has she such an influence so as to raise eyebrows in Brussels. Not even our Government has that drive.
dennis tanti
Feb 7th 2009, 14:19
That's what happens when one has no principles.
Louis Gialanze
Feb 7th 2009, 14:09
Karl Abela - get your facts right. The people who shamed us in the EP are John Attard Montaldo, Simon Busutill and David Casa for having voted for gay rights. Go ahead and read the Archbishop's message if you will today.
Geraldine Ellul
Feb 7th 2009, 13:45
Observing from a distance allows me to realise the manipulative approach taken by PN activists who try to hide behind unnamed source. Yesterday I had the oppportunity to digest what the PM Lawrence Gonzi had to say at the 9th annual meeting of the Fondazzjoni Tumas Fenech. A foundation that has worked to promote professional journalism throughout its nine years of existance. He explicitly emphasised his critical aproach towards everything his government does, even so, he invited journalists, irrespective of their political inclination, to be honest, ethical and never report partisan/personal opinions. Simply put he stated that journalists are to report facts and not declare their personal opinion. He also reiterated the fact that having the right to to protect ones sources does not in itself entail the right to invent stories and hide behind the concept of secrecy. This is abusive journalism. Why not quote your sources if you have any and declare your agenda? You have much to learn from your Prime Minister. Will you be also covering the tracks of the incumbent or the proposed PN candidates. We would like to know, as readers, who is threatened by Sharon Ellul Bonici's experience and her natural fighting spirit.
Kevin Ellul-Bonici
Feb 7th 2009, 13:38
It all sounds like a "sorsi infurmati" piece of work. And yet, the reporter had asked questions to Gawain and Sharon for which he got full written answers, but chose to speculate instead.
Mario Bonnici
Feb 7th 2009, 12:43
What kind of report is this?? And what is it aimed at?
Ms Ellul Bonici has every right to contest the MEP elections. Than it's the electorate that decides if she is capable or not to represent us in the european parliament.
That is democracy.
lgalea
Feb 7th 2009, 12:36
Who are the third electoral districts delegates who criticized her?
Names please.
lgalea
Feb 7th 2009, 12:34
Whether they like it or nbot the PL has every right to choose its own candidates without any LOCAL or FOREIGN interference. If they don't like it they know what to do with it.
Karl Abela
Did you mean to refer to the Gonezipn candidates in brussels?
Dr Andy Ellul
Feb 7th 2009, 11:44
I am writing on behalf of Ms Sharon Ellul Bonici with reference to the article "Labour MEP candidate raises eyebrows in Brussels". Even though you were given specific answers to the questions you forwarded to my client this week, you nevertheless decided to publish false statements with the aim to tarnish Ms Ellul Bonici's reputation. All I can say at this stage is that your article is libellous, and as a journalist you should have carried out at least some basic research before penning sheer innuendoes.
Karl Abela
Feb 7th 2009, 11:40
This article sums up quite nicely the quality (or lack of) of most people within the Lejber party.
The PL MEP's have done nothing but shamed our country whenever they represented us in Brussels.
I ask myself one biq question: These people cant handle simple duties properly in Brussels, so how do we expect them to run the country properly?
eric saliba
Feb 7th 2009, 11:28
what kind of report is this? unnamed sources, senior members of PES, party delegates who preferred to remain unnamed!!! the only person mentioned by name, Armin Macher, preferred not to comment !! this report seems to me to have been built solely on the imagination of the reporter. ms ellul bonici has a right to an opinion about the EU, of which she is a critic, having seen how it works up close. besides, a good 15-20% of MEPs are well known euro critics who were elected by their respective electorate. why not let the maltese voters decide whether ms bonici will represent malta after next june's elections? her experience will come in handy.
M Abela
Feb 7th 2009, 11:20
It's interesting to see whether this style of coverage is going to be applied across the board with reference to all potential MEP candidates. It would be extremely disappointing if this were not the case, as one would expect correspondents of this paper to report on true facts in an impartial manner. I have a gut feel that this is a spin exercise in the making.
Having taken a stand in the past doesn't mean that one should entrench himself in that stand. That, in my words, is rigidity, and best left to a corpse.
Candidates should be able to distance themselves from local politics, regardless of which ticket they have subscribed to. They should be able to criticise the organisation they form part of ensuring no yes-men. Being very capable of criticisizing where criticism is due is what we want, coupled with lobbying and networking skills that will ensure that Malta gets a fair deal with the EU giants. And oh, let us start using the word 'Euro-critic', instead.
m psaila
Feb 7th 2009, 11:15
PROSIT JOSEPH GOOD CHOICE INDEED!! LOL
LABOUR HAS THE HABIT OF SHOOTING ITSELF IN THE FOOT!
STAGUN POLITIKU GDID TASSEW! LOL
N Grima
Feb 7th 2009, 11:05
In this article we are being told that Sharon ellul Bonici is still a eurosceptic, but as Sharon explained to the reporter it depends on what one means when using this word. Since we have joined the EU in 2004, and this is therefore a past issue, being eurosceptic cannot in no case mean that Sharon does not want to be part of this union since the decision of joining was a democratic one by the Maltese public voted for in 2003. This then leads to the conclusion that Sharon, as she was rightfully quoted, is a critic meaning she is ready to fight for the maltese public in order for us to gain our rightful rights within the EU. She is right to say that we are not being threated the same as other countries, take the hunters for instance and the divorce for that matter even the gays did not gain their rights so far even though we are part of the EU now.