Matthew Xuereb
Bedingfield in quandary over Pope resolution
'A non issue'
Labour MEP Glenn Bedingfield has been involved in another voting mix-up, this time abstaining from a European Parliament vote condemning Pope Benedict's controversial comment on the use of condoms.
During a European Parliament sitting last week, MEPs voted on a highly contested and sensitive amendment condemning Pope Benedict's comment last March that the spread of HIV cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms.
Labour MEPs John Attard Montalto and Louis Grech voted against the amendment while Mr Bedingfield abstained. He later amended his position and voted against. However, this has no bearing on the original vote in numerical terms.
PN MEPs Simon Busuttil and David Casa voted with the European People's Party against the amendment, which was rejected.
When contacted yesterday, Mr Bedingfield said this was "a non-issue" and that his voting intention was clearly registered. He explained that there was a last minute oral amendment which gave him no time to consult his colleagues, who had voted against.
"When I consulted, I decided to change my vote. These things happen. While I have no problem explaining (what happened), PN MEPs have not yet explained why they changed their vote," he said, without giving any details on which votes had been changed.
This is the second incident of chaotic voting patterns by Labour representatives at the European Parliament.
Last week, the PN and PL were at loggerheads over the way Labour MEPs voted on a report calling for mandatory burden-sharing and amendments to the Dublin II regulation on responsibility for immigrants.
Dr Attard Montalto voted against, Mr Grech voted in favour, and Mr Bedingfield was present in the chamber but did not vote.
Labour leader Joseph Muscat then explained that all three Labour MEPs had officially registered their vote in favour and this could be seen in the EP documents.
The Labour MEPs had needed to register their vote because their hand-held voting mechanism had malfunctioned - showing a contrary vote by Dr Attard Montalto and a 'no' vote by Mr Bedingfield. However the situation was remedied soon after through the registration of the vote.
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Ian Chetcuti
May 18th 2009, 05:50
So I guess all you guys agree with what the pope said?!!!!!
Matthew Agius
May 18th 2009, 00:51
Circa 250,000 Maltese voters; 5 MEPs....simple mathematics...each MEP representing 50,000 of us voters....
Each time 1 MEP makes such a mistake, such as crucial ones on burden sharing, or one upon our Christian and Catholic values....
1 MEP mistaken vote = 50,000 Maltese voters with NO VOTE in the European Parliament.
Stop shrugging this and resting on partisan politics to get seats...Start assuming responsibility please!
Patrick Cilia
May 17th 2009, 22:02
@Jeremy..the issue is not that one makes a mistake...the issue is that you repeat that mistake...knowingly (either that or the guy is an absolute flook!) we all make mistakes, we apologize when we make them but we learn from them and certainly no responsible person makes mistakes that are crucial to national security and policy without expecting a good rap on the knuckles...hopefully by his boss! (But then some bosses are not quite what they should be!)
Galea. L
May 17th 2009, 21:37
c.camilleri
Listen to super1 and One Tv and hear one of your MEP candidates how highly he speaks of Eddie Fenech Adami.
Jeremy J Camilleri
May 17th 2009, 19:14
Its a democracy...the voters choose, not the party leader....
as for the others...PN Mep's corrected their vote twelve times....but then thats different isn't it.....
It even happened in the Maltese parliament, when a PN mp uttered the wrong word....but thats another kettle of fish hux?
Patrick Cilia
May 17th 2009, 17:47
I say one thing for Glen..he certainly is consistent in this sort of thing! I wonder what he used to do when he worked for a TV station?Did he ever press the wrong button there? Or perhaps he was waiting to see which colour he preferred...green or red?
c.camilleri
May 17th 2009, 17:02
'well Labour MPs cannot be trusted with pushing the right button in just simple voting. Image anyone of them being Head of a nuclear power county what a disaster they bring on this earth!
Claire Caruana
May 17th 2009, 16:33
mr. beddingfield needed to consult his fellow meps on this issue... quite disappointing... let alone on other sensitve issues that require more thought...
John Borg
May 17th 2009, 14:21
"Qisu huta barra mill-ilma" is the expression that comes to mind with this MEP.
Vince Calleja
May 17th 2009, 13:09
Mr Bedingfield better tell us how his journlistic career will help him to support the Maltese if ever he is elected again the EP...