Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
E-mail blunder exposes PL candidate's familial push
The co-leader of the eurosceptic group in the European Parliament, Nigel Farage, used Sharon Ellul Bonici's husband to reply to questions from The Sunday Times about the Labour candidate's MEP bid.
This came to light after Mr Farage's assistant inadvertently included in the reply to The Sunday Times Mr Ellul Bonici's unedited e-mail containing his name and answers.
In his reply, Kevin Ellul Bonici, who has been employed in Brussels by Mr Farage's eurosceptic group for a number of years, advises the assistant to "check his English" and ensure the replies "sound more British". The e-mail was also copied to his wife.
Mr Ellul Bonici thanked Mr Farage for tipping him off about the newspaper's questions and added that "this is good PR (public relations) and she's (Ms Ellul Bonici) doing very well so far".
Questions sent by this newspaper to the Ellul Bonicis about the e-mail incident remained unanswered, despite various reminders.
Although Ms Ellul Bonici, who had led the 'No to EU' campaign against Malta's membership to the EU in the 2004 referendum, has said that she severed her contacts with the eurosceptics in Brussels, in his replies her husband said that she would still be welcome to rejoin the anti-EU party if she was not elected on Labour's ticket next month.
"I would rather see Sharon elected as an MEP. She deserves this and Malta would do very well to elect her. If not elected she is obviously always welcome with us as an experienced and knowledgeable politician," Mr Ellul Bonici wrote on Mr Farage's behalf.
Mr Ellul Bonici also confirmed that his wife was approached by various eurosceptic political formations to contest on their list in the June 6 elections, but she chose Labour.
"She had the opportunity with all our backing but she preferred her natural party, which is Labour. Our group (Independence/Democracy) does not field candidates directly, but I did offer Sharon to be on the UKIP (UK Independence Party) list in the UK with clear possibilities of being elected, which she refused. I am also aware that the EU Democrats would also have loved to have Sharon on their list. The same is the case with Libertas."
Asked to state whether the eurosceptics had tried to find a replacement for Ms Ellul Bonici to contest Malta's June elections, Mr Farage's response was that this was not possible.
"No one can replace Sharon in Malta," he answered for the eurosceptic leader in Brussels.
Following Malta's referendum to join the EU, the Ellul Bonicis left Malta to work full-time with the eurosceptics in Brussels.
In recent years, Ms Ellul Bonici has been involved with various eurosceptic campaigns steered by her group.
One of the most high-profile activities was a protest by eurosceptic MEPs in the Strasbourg chamber against the Lisbon Treaty where Ms Ellul Bonici had to be escorted out of the chamber by the EP ushers on instructions by the EP President.
Asked by The Sunday Times to react to the fact that one of the eurosceptic campaigners he had complained about was now on his party's election ticket in Malta, Socialist MEP Richard Corbett declined to comment.
However, he said he presumed that Ms Ellul Bonici had now "revised her views". Ms Ellul Bonici was not allowed to contest the general election on behalf of the PL last year, a decision that was reversed by Labour's new leader Joseph Muscat for the MEP elections.
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mike turner
May 26th 2009, 23:02
Sharon will be an excellent MEP, working for Malta in the EU, not for the EU in Malta. There are far too many jobsworth MEP's who just obey the Party whip, and do not think for themselves. Look at the PN candidates.
Joe Galea
May 25th 2009, 09:21
I don't know what's all this fuss about this email. Sharon herself states that being Eurosceptic is nothing wrong, as there should be someone who opposes any wrong decisions that every now and then are taken by the EU parliament. So all this hayfire is just a distraction from all the real blunders and bad management of this government. After all Sharon is one of the 12 valuable candidates on the Labour list, if you don't like her you still have other 11 from whom to choose. The good thing about the Labour candidates is that they have a variety of knowledge and experiences and opinions leading to one direction...work for Malta. What's wrong in that? Obviously for the blu eyed ostriches, it's wrong as long as it is PL.
r sammut
May 24th 2009, 18:38
Back in the pre-accession to EU, SEB conducted a campaign almost single handed to expose many half truths thrown about by MIC. Her fighting spirits were equally of note then as they are now recognised by foreign countries; where her services are highly requested!
Will Malta miss this opportunity to let a proud determined national be snatched from under its’ nose?
Karl Abela
May 24th 2009, 18:14
What an amateur ! But if the country wants her in Brussels I guess that makes us amateur too.
Adrian Balzan
May 24th 2009, 15:59
@Patrick Schembri - Unbeliebable!! Are you Sharon's canvasser?/ If so, advise her to run with Libertas not with the PL. We at labour need labourites not people who reject its principles.
J Abela
May 24th 2009, 15:57
Face it people! we are in the EU! We need to send people who can really fight for us, not trample on us! If you want to vote PL..well... go ahead, but don't vote for Sharon! I repeat she is a person who will keenly trample on Malta, the Maltese, dare I say even her party! just for her interests!
Joanne Micallef
May 24th 2009, 15:53
Being an eurosceptic is what actually makes Sharon such a valid candidate. This country also needs someone who is willing to challenge the institution in order to gain the most out of it. There are enough MEP's who go with the flow as it is, if we want to see the bigger picture, what real implications there will be for our country re certain EU directives, we also need people like Sharon representing us.
Why should we fear those that are brave enough to stand out, to question what they don’t agree with or understand? Isn’t that the way forward, as by questioning we can get answers, answers that will generate debate, which in turn will help each and everyone of us form an opinion of our own.
louis Grech
May 24th 2009, 15:53
Whi is SEB trying to kid?? The Sunday Times has again shown her real mask......eurosceptic backed by eurosceptics. Well done to TST. Muscat should explain her existing connections and expel her again from the PL. No politics of convience plse.
c. camilleri
May 24th 2009, 15:51
Anyone who votes for Sharon who fought so hard to keep Malta out of Europe should have his mind tested. Voting Sharon means that we elect a person to the European Parliament with the explicit intentions of working to get Malta out. What benefit will Malta gain from such a person?
J Abela
May 24th 2009, 15:44
To all of those who think that Sharon Ellul Bonici can represent us well in the EU parliament.
Sharon Ellul Bonici is appearing to be an ambitious person blinded by euroscepticism, keen on proving the PN wrong and her NO2EU right. All she cares about is to prove her belief right at the expense of the Maltese and even her reputation! One can rest assured that if a preposterous decision had to be taken in the EP like....I don't know....eg: ' whether or not to make Malta the dumpsite of the EU', she would keenly vote YES just to come and say 'Ha! I was right!'
P. Schembri
May 24th 2009, 14:29
What? Chuck Ms. Ellul Bonici out? The PN's most formidable adversary? You must be joking of course! She's as valid as any candidate for the MEP elections.
So what if she is a Eurosceptic? As if she's alone in the European Union!
With candidates like her, we can rest assured that she'll fight for her country first and then the EU. For her and others of her ilk, Malta comes first and foremost!
As for the other side. With all the clashes of the colours of I don't know which rainbow, what guarantee have we got,t hat to them our interests come first? From what I'm hearing and gathering they're only paying lip service to the voter, and after elected, they become the European Lapdogs and lackeys.
Better have a hundred Sharon Ellul Bonicis in the EU arena than 2 PN candidates.
Joseph V. Grech
May 24th 2009, 13:52
Basing my conclusions on the facts as reported in this article I believe very strongly that Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat should not allow Sharon Ellul Bonici to contest the MEP elctions as a P.L. candidate. Put the interests of the State and the Party first and foremost! We cannot afford to have a confirmed Eurosceptic representing State and Party in Brussels! Does the P.L. want to look credible or not? Chuck her out now!
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
May 24th 2009, 13:05
I fully agree with Ms Joanne Micallef. Furthermore, I believe that Sharon's contribution in the EU would be very beneficial. It is a fact that "friends" tend to compromise whereas a person like Sharon would challenge and get the best deals for Malta and the Maltese citizens!!
Joseph Mizzi
May 24th 2009, 11:32
@Joanne
The same applies to those PL supporters, like myself, who voted No in the referendum but who are now convinced that the Maltese can make a success out of EU membership. I'm sure that the nine other PL candidates are valid enough to contribute towards this success.
Personally, I was hurt by Sharon'e reactions on Xarabank immediately after the result of the 2008 General Elections.
Having said that, I admire Joseph Muscat for giving room to candidates with the widest spectrum of ideals and experiences to contest the EP election. It will be up to us PL voters who to choose to represent the Party and Malta in the European Parliament come June 6.
John Mizzi
May 24th 2009, 10:48
Some of labour's MEP's are top drawer...but some are unfortunately downright scandalous. Joseph -Sharon was a faux pas..... take note...and learn from it.
Joanne Micallef
May 24th 2009, 10:46
Personally I think Sharon is a very valid candidate, all those MLP supporters who are still very much skeptic about the EU can identify with her. With someone like Sharon in the EU parlament we can rest assured that Malta's interest will always come first, as I doubt that she will ever go against her country's interest to please the EU.
As for her antics re the EU treaty, all those who read and understood the treaty well can understand if not appreciate her actions.
G.Debono
May 24th 2009, 10:34
Do we want such people to represent us in the EU ?
mario farrugia
May 24th 2009, 09:42
Dr Joseph Muscat is now to let us know if he still backs her nomination??