MPs from both sides of the House who tend to bicker over the most trivial matters seem to have come together in a rare show of unexpected solidarity to maintain hunting in spring.
The two leaders – Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Opposition leader Simon Busuttil – declared they will be voting to maintain the derogation from the EU’s Birds Directive that allows spring hunting.
And, in a The Sunday Times of Malta straw poll of 20 MPs – 10 from each side – just three MPs from the Opposition benches said they would voting to abolish spring hunting in April’s abrogative referendum.
All three preferred to remain anonymous even though Dr Busuttil yesterday said MPs could speak freely about the matter.
Another two Nationalist MPs remained undecided and they too did not wish to be named.
The rest – David Agius, Jason Azzopardi, Claudette Buttigieg, Ryan Callus and Robert Cutajar – said they would be voting in favour of the derogation the Nationalist Party had negotiated, obtained and subsequently defended.
Ms Buttigieg added: “The shameful abuses we have seen occurred because the law was not enforced by a government that actively undermined it. I am in favour of the law and its strict vigilant enforcement.”
Dr Azzopardi insisted he was not agreeing for the sake of going along with his party leader, but out of conviction with the views “I myself had defended prior to membership”.
From the government benches, eight MPs – Godfrey Farrugia, Joseph Farrugia, Chris Fearne, Etienne Grech, Charles Mangion, Silvio Parnis, Joseph Sammut and Silvio Schembri – said they would be voting in favour of maintaining spring hunting.
Dr Farrugia’s stand differs from that of his partner Marlene Farrugia, who declared she would be voting to abolish spring hunting. He explained that although he was in favour of spring hunting this had to be sustainable and there had to be proper enforcement.
Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said he was still undecided; torn between his passion to see birds fly freely and his discomfort of imposing his opinion on others’ pastime.
On the other hand, Environment Minister Leo Brincat said although he was aware of what was promised in Labour’s electoral manifesto and appreciated Dr Muscat’s “consistent” stand, he felt he had to respect the wish of civil society and at no stage make his position public.
“The matter is in the people’s hands, and since the Prime Minister said the verdict will be respected, I am choosing to let civil society make its choices,” Mr Brincat said.