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.