European Union is about values not flag waving

During last Friday's edition of the TV programme Xarabank, PN MEP hopeful Alan Deidun decided to take a dig at Labourites by concluding his one-minute intervention with a pathetic gimmick. He posed the question "are you ready to wave this most precious flag" to the PL candidates present in the studio and then flew into a hysterical fit of EU flag waving. I find this gesture very populistic and totally divisive and replete with self-righteousness. It implies that only the PN has a monopoly over the EU... which is far from the truth.

Is this Dr Deidun's idea of Europe? Waving of flags? Is this why he hopes to be elected in the European Parliament? Does he think that the European Parliament is some sort of village band club? Does he think that any European will be impressed by such nonsense?

I would like to take this opportunity to remind him of what the EU should stand for. The EU is not only an economic bloc but is a commitment to upholding a set of shared values such as higher standards of living, higher standards of environmental protection, tolerance and respect for diversity (including sexual diversity), a union of civil liberties, etc. I think that if Dr Deidun had to examine his party's voting record in the EP he would find out that his party consistently votes against most of these values. The PN with its conservative stance (a stance which is seemingly shared by Dr Deidun) is the least European of the parties.

I hope that come Saturday all those voters who, unlike Dr Deidun, are genuinely pro-EU, take note of this!