Voting in the election for the European Parliament

I know many people who will not bother voting in the elections for the European Parliament. The reasons are varied. Some are disappointed by the government. Others are not too happy with the Opposition. They feel that not voting would send a message one way or the other. Others – and their number is unfortunately on the increase – are disillusioned with politics. Most I know will not vote, as they believe that the European Parliament does not make a difference. Some others just do not care a lot about the EU.

This kind of indifference is in the air. Even parts of government give signs of a lukewarm attitude towards these elections. Had this been a general election, government would have done everything possible to avoid conflicts with the doctors and the transport sector, to mention just two examples. But since this is not a general election it seems that such conflicts are ok. Is this a sign of maturity (“we’ll do what we have to do in spite of elections”) or a sign of lack of co-ordination among the government front bench?

The EU itself is holding a campaign to try to get people out to vote. This, after all, is not just a Maltese problem. This lack of interest is a problem across all of Europe. The EU sponsored advertising campaign is welcome news to the Maltese media who are suffering from a dearth of advertising. Whether it will manage to get people to vote is another matter.

A right and a responsibility

The Bishops of the member states of the European Union do not share the apathy shared by others on the European project. In a statement released last March, they stated once more “the Catholic Church has supported the project of European integration since the very beginning and continues to do so. Every Christian not only has the right but also the responsibility to be actively engaged in this project by exercising his or her vote.”

What a different tone from that of the Eurosceptics among us who try to justify their scepticism by reference to Catholic belief and values!

The Bishops say more. “The participation of Christians is essential in order to rediscover the ‘soul of Europe’, which is vital to fulfil the fundamental needs of the human person and the service of the common good.” Pope John Paul II as well as Pope Benedict have repeatedly spoken about the rediscovery of the “soul of Europe.”

Pope Benedict XVI met, on May 22, with Presidents Georgi Parvanov of Bulgaria and Gjeorge Ivano of Macedonia. Meeting separately with the two presidents, the Pope offered a similar message to each: “make an effective contribution to building a Europe faithful to its Christian roots.”

The Bishops are conscious that there are shortcomings and say so. However, they say, “the process of European integration deserves to be appreciated, in spite of some shortcomings. For this reason we, the Bishops of COMECE, support and promote the European Union as a project of hope for all of its citizens.”

The Catholic Manifesto

The Bishops then move on to say what Catholics expect from those that they elect to the European Parliament. Their eight point plan is the following:

1. to respect human life from conception to natural death as integral to all European Union legislation, programmes and policies;

2. to support the family founded on marriage – as understood between one man and one woman - as the basic unit of society;

3. to advance the social rights of workers providing them with working conditions which respect their health, safety and dignity;

4. to endorse economic governance based on ethical values in order to achieve sustainable human development within the European Union and at global level;

5. to promote justice in relationships of the European Union with developing countries through financial assistance and innovative partnerships;

6. to demonstrate solidarity by shaping policies that help the weakest and poorest in our societies (in particular people with disabilities, asylum-seekers, migrants);

7. to protect creation by fighting climate change and encouraging a moderate lifestyle;

8. to promote peace in the world through coordinated and coherent external EU-policy.

Local silence

While the bishops have made their presence felt on the European level, it is a pity that the Church in our country is almost silent. I would have expected our Bishops to publicise locally the position that they have taken in Comece (association of the EU Bishops) much more than they did.

Have political parties been lobbied about this manifesto? Why was the statement not distributed to all the homes in Malta and Gozo? The magazine Flimkien would have been ideal for such an initiative. Or why did the Church not buy advertising space in the newspapers to publicise the eight points mentioned above? Such actions could have influenced the electoral manifestos of the political parties. I heard through the grapevine that the Bishops would eventually publish a pastoral letter. Now it is too late.

I appeal to Catholic voters to present the manifesto of the EU Bishops to the several candidates belonging to different political parties who are doing the rounds asking for their vote. While others, quite rightly, are lobbying for their views and values we should do the same for our views and values.

Malta needs to elect five people in the EU Parliament who are efficient and effective. We need people who will vote the way we want them to vote i.e. they should vote in a way which is consonant with our values.