PN demands vote explanation - PL reacts
The Nationalist Party this evening demanded an explanation from the Labour Party after its three MEPs all acted differently in a European Parliament vote on migration.
The vote was on a report calling for mandatory burden-sharing and amendments to the Dublin II regulation on responsibility for migrants.
The PN said the Labour MEPs has been inconsistent in the vote. John Attard Montalto voted against, Louis Grech voted in favour, and Glenn Bedingfield was present in the chamber but did not vote.
In contrast the two Nationalist MEPs voted in favour.
The PN said this was a very important vote for Malta, and it accused the PL of not backing the national interest.
It said the people expected an explanation from the PL.
PL EXPLANATION
PL leader Joseph Muscat, speaking this evening in Naxxar, said all three Labour MEPs had officially registered their vote in favour and this could be seen in the EP documents.
Dr Muscat said it was the PN which was being inconsistent, it having last October backed an Immigration Pact which proposed voluntary, not mandatory, burden-sharing.
A party spokesman explained to timesofmalta.com that the Labour MEPs had needed to register their vote because their hand-held voting mechanism malfunctioned - showing a contrary vote by Dr Attard Montalto and no vote by Mr Bedingfield. However the situation was remedied soon after through the registration of the vote.
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31 Comments
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Edric Micallef Figallo
May 11th 2009, 17:49
"Dr Muscat said it was the PN which was being inconsistent, it having last October backed an Immigration Pact which proposed voluntary, not mandatory, burden-sharing." - Can dr. Muscat respect our political intelligence? We're not all duped by him. As an ex-MEP and that is more European than the Nationalists, he must know that the UE often gets to the point bit-tlikki tlikki. He should know that a while ago on Xarabank, Prime Minister Gonzi told him that having gained the voluntary burden sharing declaration meant that Malta gained more clout to push for obligatory burden sharing if voluntary burden sharing didn't work. What happened? High EU officials claiming failure, plus a recent dispute with Italy. Together with the Italians we pushed the European Commission for obligatory burden sharing. Thanks to PN MEP Simon Busuttil and his report to the European Parliament, the same EP approved the same principle, while Labourite MEPs are absent-minded enough to not know how to vote accordingly on such an important question. By the way, as a British professor stated on the BBC, if the centre-left PES of PL win the European elections we can expect more liberal immigration policies worthy of "softies".
laurence schembri
May 9th 2009, 09:12
This has now become synonymous with the Nationalist Party. Each and everytime an election approaches, false accusations start flying, half-truths and clamoruos lies and they persist in enlarging them even though it is shown to them on black and white i.e. burden-sharing votes, the big lie by the larger-than-life coronated Statesman, I truly feel sorry for their gullible supporters, for they accept it as gospel.
Joseph Camilleri
May 8th 2009, 16:42
Seriously... is it too much to expect the MLP to respect our intelligence?
Victor Mamo
May 8th 2009, 15:29
Louis Grech might have been consistent on this issue, but what about J.A.M? What about Glenn Bedingfield and Joseph Muscat before him? Despite Dr. Muscat constantly harping on about the issue at home, he made no move in the European Parliament when he had the chance. The same can be said about J.A.M. Glenn Bedinfield only had circa half a year to show his mettle so it would be unfair for me to judge him. However, since all the PL apologists are arguing in favor for the consistency of Louis Grech, please enlighten the rest of us and tell us what Joseph Muscat and John Attard Montalto did in their years in the EP?
aquilina N
May 8th 2009, 14:39
@R.Caruana
I don't know why all this fuss about being taken for a ride from PL, you together with all the maltese population have been taken for a ride by this Government for the last 22 years, so buckle up and enjoy the remaining 4 years ride :) you deserve it since the people get the govt they deserve.
Angelo Micallef
May 8th 2009, 14:04
The mechanism malfunctioned for John Attard Montaldo and Glenn Beddingfield and they got their vote corrected?? Or was it rather a case of complete inconsistency from the PL side and then upon realizing that cheap partisan politics wasn't going to score points here the votes had to be changed in order to come into line?
PL.....Just try...just try to respect our intelligence...at least just this once!!!
Christian Mifsud
May 8th 2009, 13:56
The fact is that all the PL Meps voted in favour as it is shown in the official documents of EP. David casa can say what he wants
R. Caruana
May 8th 2009, 12:58
@ Joe Bonello
Dr Attard Montalto issued a statement to say that he pressed the wrong button, and NOT that the mechanism malfunctioned. This was confirmed by David Casa who was next to him and noted that Fr A.M. had voted 'against'. So, please, why is the PL trying to defend the undefensible?
So much to PL credibility!!
R. Cruana
May 8th 2009, 11:45
Imsiken tal-PL. Why is it thatonly their voting buttons do not work? It worked for Louis Grech and the two PN MEPs.
No excuses, please, PL. Don't try to take us for a ride,we've had enough of your 'new' way of making politics.
Joe Bonello
May 8th 2009, 11:41
Who wants to know the REAL other side of the coin please follow this link
http://www.direzzjonisuccess.eu/ahbarijiet-dettaljati?id=16
Joe Gatt
May 8th 2009, 11:16
The perverse logic of politicians and their supporters is unbelievable. They are arguing who voted in favour or against burden sharing of illegal immigrants but miss the whole issue; Why should their be any burden sharing at all? Why should illegal immigrants be a burden to an EU taxpayer?
They should be returned to where they came from (Libya most likely) as soon as they are intercepted on sea. Those of them who are really refugees should go to one of the European Embassies in Libya and ask for refugee status there.
The EU should shift its focus from Burden Sharing to how it is going to help African countries out of their misery, isolating dictators and helping in the establishment of democracy and freedom. Only then can these countries start benefiting from economic growth and hence better living conditions.
I don't believe in false charity. don't give the beggar a fish, give him a fishing rod. We are not helping africans by accepting illegal immigrants. We should send them back and help them fix their countries' problems.
J.Cassar
May 8th 2009, 09:51
Louis Grech has always been consistent on this issue and he was one of the first to raise Malta's illegal immigration problem in the European Parliament.
There is no room for political scoring and much less for bickering.
Let as act as one nation to convince the EU to make it mandatory for all states to carry a share of the burden of illegal immigration.
J. Cassar
Joseph Buttigieg Attard
May 8th 2009, 09:48
This is another gross example of PN misinformation and manipulation of events! What a shame on the PN for insisting on such pathetic misinformation.
The PN knows that Electronic malfunction while voting happens very often and so it happened. The NP knows very well that the LP's EU members of parliament registered their votes 'in favour' after this electronic malfunction. The PN' resorted to its " trade mark of misinformation and minipulation of events'.
@joseph agius .. No this is no joke! This behaviour by the PN must be condemned by one and all. That includes you and all 'blu eyed' die hards. I know it might be too much to stomach and to digest.
What a shame on the "infamous PN's propoganda machine of misinformation and manipulation of events"!
S farrugia
May 8th 2009, 09:08
Dear Emily....
You have been convinced to vote to the MLP since you were still in the embrionic stage!!!!
Not even if the MLp puts you topsy turvy, you would still vote them!!
As if it was only now that you're voting Mlp.... u hallina... ma tridiex tal-floating voter hux?? ;)
J Xerri
May 8th 2009, 08:57
.......... And a few weeks ago somebody tried to belittle the importance of the illegal immigration issue
Adriano Spiteri
May 8th 2009, 08:50
Burden Sharing - a plead for more!
No other idea could serve a better purpose to guarantee the African a safe and welcoming passage to mainland Europe.
What an invention, what a party: we're doomed.
Franco Farrugia
May 8th 2009, 07:59
@ All those who previously were quick to condemn and squeak: Perhaps you should at leat retract or apologise. But that's for gentelmen, I guess.
Mike Magri
May 8th 2009, 07:38
You GonziPN Guys, do not take a clear cut explanation for an answer, DO YOU...!!??!!?? Ohhhh Yesss.. I gues because its not 'music to your ears' isn't it...!! As Usual the GonziPN strategists 'jumped the bandwagon' and made a fool of themselves, yet again...
edward Demicoli
May 8th 2009, 00:57
Labour MEPs have been inconsistent in their voting patterns throughout the whole five years. they have voted against, abstained or did not vote at all on issues as important as migration, and the working time directive. it is funny that the system at the EP always makes mistakes with the vote of the PL delegates and never with the PN's delegates.
Gerald Fenech
May 8th 2009, 00:43
Obe only has to read Ranier Fsadni's column today on The Nationalists on Thin Ice to explain this statement.
P. Schembri
May 7th 2009, 23:54
@PN apologists. In your eagerness to belittle PL, you're not even reading the whole article. Or maybe you're only watching NET News of Maltarightnow, or IN-Nazzjon. Because these type of media show only one side of the coin. SHAME ON YOU and YOUR MEDIA!
G Falzon
May 7th 2009, 23:41
To Emily Green
The apex of clarity from the PL was in the EU referendum and the 180 degrees U-turn thereafter. The current PL leader was a prime actor in all this. Now the seal to all comes from an MEP candidate himself with the words "Il-Partit l-ewwel u qabel kollox". This takes PL back to the 70s even though Mintoff then used to say that the country was first and before all else.
edwin formosa
May 7th 2009, 23:06
Mr Agius, can't you read plain English? And Dr. S. Busuttil who is so learned about the E.U. should have first verified what was the real position and why the malfunction happened . It happened before during the Referendum. Joseph Muscat's voting mechanism malfunctioned NO then. So he is registering his vote YES now. Kelma ta ragel, sinsla ecc..
D.Galea
May 7th 2009, 22:27
@Joseph Agius
Well I wouldn't call it a joke if the PL shows this EP documentation as it's declaring to have & the PN would have nothing to rebate with. well now that would be tragic indeed.
P. Schembri
May 7th 2009, 21:09
Look before you leap. I think you have heard the two sides than comment.
lzammit
May 7th 2009, 20:55
Does the PL know that carnival is over!
Alfred Cassar
May 7th 2009, 20:46
This is unbelievable!!! They dont know what they're doing and they are making a joke of our country. Shame on John Attard Montalto and Glenn Bedingfield. They just vote for the interest of the PL and not that of Malta. Tal-misthija
Emily green
May 7th 2009, 20:40
@ Joseph Agius
Didn't you read. ALL agreed in favour. They had to register it by hand since there were technical problems. NO IT IS NOT A JOKE!!!! Do you think this is a game? Here it is not political parties we are dealing with but human lives. It is our country and it is totally unethical of you to say that the MEP's are not thinking about Malta. I am one of those people who is not considering the colour of the party but the individual. However, I am really sick and very disgusted that PN supporters are trying to use such a delicate issue as a political weapon.
It has always been clear that MLP are in favour of Burden sharing, especially since Louis Grech had got up the concept in 2006. He also had a lot to do with the Frontex agency to patrol and try to find the people responsible for all this.
You know joseph, you have just convinced me where my vote is going!
Joe Cassar
May 7th 2009, 20:30
Mr Agius, can't you read plain English?
Anthony Magri
May 7th 2009, 20:11
So the P.N. got it wrong. All three Labour MEP voted in favour of the resolution. Dr. S. busuttil who is so learned about the E.U. should have first verified what was the real position and why the malfunction happened so much so tht all three Labour MEP had to register their vote in writing something more tangible than just raising hands.
The P.N. must apologise for such "faux pas" not only to the three Labour MEP but to the nation for misleading everyone. Typical of P.N's
Joseph Agius
May 7th 2009, 19:54
Is this a joke?? PL should withdraw all their candidates. The MEP who was there but did not vote has already declared that his interest is the party and not Malta. Is this the earthquake? PL from the frying pan to the fire!