The common position adopted by the two party leaders in favour of spring hunting may not necessarily spell bad news for the anti-hunting lobby, according to experts who spoke to this newspaper.
On Saturday, Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil announced he would be voting to retain spring hunting in the April 11 referendum, although his MPs will be given a free vote. His position mirrors the stance taken a week earlier by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.
It is rare for the leaders of opposing political parties to be in the same camp on such a major issue and many question the chances of success for the Coalition Against Spring Hunting, whose petition has paved the way for the referendum.
Some commentators on social media have suggested the result is now a foregone conclusion in favour of hunters.
However, a former PN strategist who preferred to remain anonymous told Times of Malta that the worst case scenario for the coalition would have been for the party leaders to actually be in opposing camps on the issue.
I forecast that turnout will exceed 50 per cent of registered voters
“If Dr Busuttil had pronounced himself against spring hunting, he would have pitted himself against Dr Muscat. The ultimate result of such a polarised campaign would have been that the anti-hunting lobby would have lost the referendum,” he said.
A similar position was expressed by electoral law expert and PN candidate Hermann Schiavone who argued that, for once, politicians would take the backseat and let the people decide for themselves.
He sees having the leaders take the same position as a “positive” development for the No camp led by the coalition.
“Given that both leaders are also encouraging the party faithful to take an active part in this referendum, I forecast that turnout will exceed 50 per cent of registered voters,” he said. This would ensure the result is binding, as a lower turnout would make it invalid.
Sociologist and former Alternattiva Demokratika leader Michael Briguglio does not see the situation as having been made more difficult for the anti-hunting lobby either.
He said that both in the EU and more recently the divorce referendums, a significant number had voted against the views expressed by their own party.
“In the case of hunting, neither camp is aligning itself with the PL or the PN, so the views expressed by both leaders will not be decisive,” he argued.
A Labour party strategist with electioneering experience was not so sure.
Also wanting to remain unnamed, he said the position taken by the two leaders would undoubtedly influence those among the hardcore party faithful who were still undecided.
However, he added that the outcome would ultimately hinge on how the referendum campaigns unfold.