Minors’ signatures are being used to bolster a petition to block the spring hunting referendum, Times of Malta has learnt.

Hunters’ federation president Joe Perici Calascione confirmed that signatories included a number of minors but denied media reports that hunters had already collected 90,000 signatures.

“All those who signed are Maltese citizens and ID card holders. They are not all of voting age,” he said, adding that these would all be 18 by the next general election in 2018.

Daily newspaper l-Orizzont reported that the hunters’ federation FKNK had collected about 90,000 signatures, 50,000 more than those gathered by the Coalition Against Spring Hunting.

The coalition’s petition is aimed at holding a referendum to abrogate spring hunting and the signatures collected are being verified by the Electoral Commission. A window for objectors will be opened before an official date for the national vote is set by the President.

We are trying to raise awareness among parliamentarians

Asked about the 90,000 figure, Mr Perici Calascione insisted the number was “purely speculative”.

The FKNK has repeatedly declined to comment on how many signatures it had collected, despite numerous requests by this newspaper. Mr Perici Calascione said the number of signatures collected and the age of the signatories were not relevant because the petition was not aimed at calling for a referendum.

“We are not trying to hold a referendum. We are trying to raise awareness among parliamentarians. We want to have amendments made to the Referendum Act so that minorities are equally catered for,” he said.

Asked what action the federation would take if the referendum went ahead, Mr Perici Calascione said the next step could be to take the case to the constitutional court.

“After the signatures are verified this goes to the constitutional courts. Then it is up to our lawyers as to what action to take,” he said.

Representatives of the UK-based environmental movement, The League Against Cruel Sports, will be in Malta next week to support the coalition against spring hunting.

In a statement, the Malta Movement for Hunting and Environmentalists yesterday called for hunters to “keep a cool head” and observe the law when hunting.

The spring hunting season opens today.

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