Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said this evening that politicians should stay out of the spring hunting debate, adding that the decision rested on the will of the people in a referendum.

He added that the PN's position was to have a limited and controlled season. However he argued that in the wake of 40,000 signatures gathered to force an abrogative referendum, political parties has to bow their head to the will of the people.

The PN leader expressed his objection to amending the Referendum Act in a way which would prohibit the spring hunting referendum, saying that this would be undemocratic. He said that he trusted the prime minister's assurances that no such plans were in the pipeline.

Dr Busuttil was speaking during a political activity in Ghajnsielem, Gozo, as part of the party's MEP election campaign.

The PN leader said that the party had no divine right to be trusted by voters but had to earn respect through persuasion and a constructive approach. He said that the party was striving to remain loyal to the truth and fended off criticism that it was resorting to a negative approach.

Dr Busuttil recounted how the party's latest initiative was to propose a constitutional amendment to eliminate any form of discrimination against people with disabilities. He said that further details would be announced tomorrow when Opposition MP Stephen Spiteri would present a Private Member's Bill.

The PN leqder said that the PL was not being realistic when it was labelling itself as the underdog for the elections, as only a year ago it had won the general election with a majority of 36,000 votes.

Dr Busuttil said that the PN was learning from its mistakes in government by listening to the people.

Dr Busuttil referred to gay adoptions, the LNG gas tanker at Marsaxlokk Bay and the citizenship programme saying that none of these were in the Labour manifesto.

He also remarked that the Labour government had done absolutely nothing for the sister island in its first year in office, "except force a Gozo channel ferry to make a u-turn" in a dig at the controversy involving Gozo Minister Anton Refalo.

On immigration he said that the EU had not done enough to reach out and help Malta. However he cautioned against adopting a militant approach. While the PN was criticised for not doing enough, the present government had managed to do nothing, Dr Busuttil said.

Regarding employment he said that the only initiative in Gozo was the setting up of a scheme where participants were engaged to carry out cleansing works in public places and keep the island tidy. Dr Busuttil said that dozens of Gozitans were transferred to Malta for their Nationalist background.

"You have an opportunity to vote against intimidation in the European Parliament election", Dr Busuttil said.

The PN leader rubbished the inquiry held by the health ministry which concluded that there was no political discrimination on the distribution of free medicines. He said that this was not done by an independent body but by the permanent secretary who had just been appointed a few days before.

Regarding the reduction of two cents in the price of petrol, he said this was just a gimmick as this was announced weeks after a similar rise.

"Will the government reduce the price of fuel if international prices go down?" Dr Busuttil asked.