People will be able to cast their votes on April 11. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

The campaign against spring hunting is expected to kick off in the coming days after coalition members finalised their strategy, Times of Malta has learnt.

The Coalition Against Spring Hunting, made up of several environmental groups and Alternattiva Demokratika, will be campaigning under the No banner for the referendum that will be held on April 11.

Sources said the strategy was finalised when the exact wording of the referendum question was made known on Monday after initial confusion between the Maltese and English versions of the law (see Q&A on page 7).

Campaign coordinator Romina Tolu would not reveal much when contacted yesterday, saying the anti-spring hunting coalition’s campaign strategy will be unveiled this week.

Asked about the funding for the three-month campaign, she said CASH had been receiving donations all year round. “They are still coming in,” she said.

Part of the coalition’s strategy will be determined by the decision hunters will make on whether to boycott the referendum, sources said.

Hunters have not yet revealed their strategy as senior officials have been meeting daily to evaluate their options including the possibility of boycotting the referendum. However, hunters are wary the boycott strategy may backfire since the referendum will be held on the same day that local elections will be held in half the country, including hunter strongholds like Żebbuġ, Dingli, Siġġiewi, Safi and Kirkop.

At least half of eligible voters have to turn out for the referendum to be valid.

This means CASH would have to devote energy to convince people to cast their ballot, especially in those localities where no local elections will take place.

The referendum will be asking electors whether they want to retain the legal notice that makes it possible for a spring hunting season to be opened.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has already declared he will vote Yes to retain spring hunting but will give Labour MPs a free choice on the matter.

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil will wait for his party’s internal discussion to conclude before declaring his vote.

But as the respective referendum campaigns stood at a standstill yesterday, the major political parties were locked in a war of words.

The Labour Party accused Dr Busuttil of sitting on the fence by staying mum and the Nationalist Party hit back accusing the PL of “itching to politicise” the referendum campaign.

kurt.sansone@timesofmalta.com