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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.