Hunters are still waiting for direction from their federation on whether or not to boycott the spring hunting referendum as the campaign enters its second week.
The hunting federation, FKNK, has not yet decided what stance to take as officials have been meeting daily since the constitutional court’s decision to allow the referendum to go ahead.
The anti-spring hunting lobby adopted SHout (spring hunting out) as its rallying call when it unveiled the No campaign last Saturday.
The first week was characterised by a wait-and-see approach that saw Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Opposition leader Simon Busuttil take the same stand in favour of spring hunting.
However, both leaders have asked MPs and party members to vote according to their conscience.
Dr Muscat was yesterday in Żebbuġ, a hunters’ hotbed, for his customary Sunday political speech but only sparingly mentioned the referendum.
He criticised Dr Busuttil for taking a week to decide on how he will vote, insisting this was not the mark of a leader who could take quick decisions on more important matters.
Bar the political jibe, Dr Muscat avoided the hunting controversy and reiterated that the parties should take a step back.
But out in the street, the Labour supporters approached by Times of Malta were, as expected, all in favour of retaining spring hunting.
From “I will vote Yes because the leader said so” to “it is important to allow people to enjoy their pastime”, there was no doubt where the pulse of the Żebbuġin beat.
Hunters have played the sympathy card to attract minority interest groups to their fold.
With some, at least, it seems to have worked.
Two women and a man who said they were not hunters argued it was “unfair” to deny hunters their hobby.
“Everybody is entitled to have a hobby; why should I deny the person his passion?” a young woman asked.
An elderly man said he was waiting for direction from the FKNK but would vote Yes to retain spring hunting if no boycott was declared.
Unable to understand why people were campaigning to deny him his passion, the man said quail hunting was a long-held family tradition.
“The Church used to celebrate Mass at 4am for people like me, who go out to hunt for quails,” he said.
The situation was also clear cut for Labour MP Godfrey Farrugia. He told this newspaper he would vote in favour of spring hunting for quail and turtle doves.
Dr Farrugia said hunting in spring should be possible if it was sustainable and accompanied by strict enforcement, which he said had improved since the election.
Asked about the situation at home after his partner, fellow Labour MP Marlene Farrugia, declared she would vote No to spring hunting, Dr Farrugia said it was healthy to have different views.
“We will still eat from the same plate,” he said with a smile.
While Żebbuġ, with its strong hunting community, may deliver a solid Yes, the solitary voice of an elderly woman – “I’m not interested...” – may yet represent the segment of voters both the Yes and No campaigns will want to convince.
kurt.sansone@timesofmalta.com