Labour lambasts divorce referendum process

Listing a number of deficiencies that have characterised the run-up to the divorce referendum, Labour spokesman Michael Falzon said the process was handled in a “half-hearted” manner.

In a statement yesterday he said the distribution of the voting documents, which for the first time was not done by the police, left much to be desired and the taxpayer incurred “a phenomenal expense”.

Voting documents were distributed by postal workers and there were two incidents where voting documents were lost and had to be re-issued by the Electoral Commission.

Dr Falzon also lambasted the Air Malta arrangements for foreign-based eligible voters to come and vote, insisting they were made late and were characterised by confusion and lack of transparency.

He also revived the controversy over the 2,800 young voters who were disenfranchised because “the PN-appointed electoral commission members changed their stance”.

The referendum writ was published two weeks before the new electoral register was issued in April, meaning that new voters since October could not vote.

However, in a counter-statement the Nationalist Party said Dr Falzon was only trying to defend the mess created by Labour leader Joseph Muscat.

The PN said it was Dr Muscat who was to blame for disenfranchising young people since he ignored the Electoral Commission’s advice to amend the parliamentary resolution calling for the referendum writ to be published on the last day of March.

If instead, the writ had been published on April 18 the new electoral register would have already been published and the new voters would be eligible to vote.“The resolution was moved by Joseph Muscat when and how he wanted and it went through like he wanted,” the PN said.