18 May 2005


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One Labour vote instead of 30 for EU Constitution

One of the possibilities being considered by the MLP is that only one Labour MP would vote in favour of ratifying the EU’s constitutional treaty on behalf of the whole parliamentary group.
This was revealed by Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici in yesterday’s edition of TV programme Int X’Tahseb? during a debate with Evarist Bartolo.
This was the first televised debate between an MLP representative and Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici on the contentious issue.
During the programme Mifsud Bonnici insisted that the MLP should abstain in the vote in order to deprive the EU’s constitutional treaty from a two-thirds majority. According to Mifsud Bonnici EU laws would still be subject to the Maltese constitution if the treaty is approved through a simple majority.
Replying to this argument, Labour MP Evarist Bartolo insisted that even if the party’s general conference approved the EU’s constitutional treaty, it would not necessarily mean that all Labour MPs will be voting in favour of the constitution.
Following this ominous declaration by Evarist Bartolo, Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici revealed that the MLP is considering expressing its support for the constitution through the vote of one single MP voting on behalf of the rest.
In so doing the MLP could be highlighting the conditional nature of its support for ratification.
Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici declared that he would be opposing this proposal and will keep on insisting that the MLP should abstain.



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