[attach id=380401 size="medium"]Robert Henry Bugeja.[/attach]
The Labour Party still supports one of its candidates vying to fill the parliamentary seat vacated by Karmenu Vella despite objecting to a number of anti-migration comments he made.
Robert Henry Bugeja is among five candidates hoping to be elected to Parliament at a casual election in the fifth district today.
He raised eyebrows after a number of anti-migration comments he posted on Facebook. One such post features a photo of a vessel loaded with irregular migrants with the caption “President’s charity ride”.
A PL spokesman told Times of Malta the party “totally disagrees with Mr Bugeja’s posts”, insisting they did not reflect the party’s position and policy.
The spokesman said the party had spoken to Mr Bugeja who agreed to delete the posts in question.
Asked whether the party still supported his candidature, the spokesman said it would because he was eligible for the casual election having unsuccessfully contested the last general election.
In his comments, Mr Bugeja also urged the public not to donate to the President’s Boxing Day fund raising marathon, l-Istrina. He claimed, among other things, that President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca was forcing the Maltese to integrate with African migrants whom he accused of “stealing Maltese jobs” and enjoying preferential treatment in terms of social benefits.
“If you live to support illegal migration then donate to l-Istrina,” he wrote.
Asked why he was urging people not to donate to the popular fund raiser, Mr Bugeja stood by his comments saying he felt politicians should not promote migrant integration, particularly when this was funded through taxes. Instead, he said, the money should be spent on those members of Maltese society who really need financial help.
Ms Coleiro Preca condemned the comments, insisting his views did not resonate with those of the Maltese people.
Asked how she felt about the possibility of Mr Bugeja representing the Maltese people in Parliament, Ms Coleiro Preca said the decision on who to elect to Parliament rested solely with the electorate.
The other candidates contesting today’s casual election are Marsascala mayor Mario Calleja, former MP Joseph Farrugia (Il-Farell), Marsaxlokk mayor Edrick Micallef and former MP Anthony Zammit.