Editorial

Saturday's yes vote in the EU membership referendum sets the scene for the general election that should logically seal that decision. The date for the election, April 12, was announced by the prime minister yesterday afternoon after a Cabinet meeting.

By all accounts, the election is expected to be among the keenest ever. In such an active democracy as ours, this is not surprising at all. What counts most though is that at the end of the day, the parties contesting the election abide by the will of the people. That is the cornerstone of democracy.

The Labour Party starts the election campaign with a great handicap. Its decision not to accept the people's verdict in last Saturday's EU referendum questions its democratic credentials in a manner that has caused great concern, even among Labour Party supporters who cherish democracy. It is one thing being a bad loser, quite another declaring an intention not to respect the will of the people freely and democratically expressed in a referendum.

The Labour Party leadership showed a great sense of irresponsibility when in the face of such a clear referendum outcome they called a spontaneous demonstration in Marsa at the same time that the pro-EU supporters were out on the streets justifiably celebrating the result.

It was a risky decision that should never be repeated. Labour's reaction works against the party's interests for it is safe to say that not even Labour supporters want to see Malta return to the times of the Socialist government when intolerance was their party's hallmark.

The people had every reason to rejoice for even though the size of the yes vote may not be as large as many would have preferred it to be, the positive outcome gives them an opportunity to change the course of their country's history in a way expected to affect, one way or another, each and every one of us.

The main change lies of course in the political significance of membership itself. As a member, the island would be part of a community born out of the ravages of war, a group of nations now sharing the same democratic ideals of freedom, rule of law and human rights and solidarity, and actively seeking to forge ahead politically, socially and economically in peace and security.

Sunday's win is a victory for the whole island, for even though Labour fought hard to keep membership away, and still intends doing so, they know deep down that the island's future is intrinsically tied to Europe in a way that only membership can fully justify such bond. Labour's leadership had gone astray, suggesting a permutation of a relationship that does not even exist as yet.

Now that the majority have decided in favour of membership, the party's leadership is in a dilemma of its own making. There will be enough time between now and the election for those who voted no to realise the absurdity and futility of Labour's arguments and to analyse the predicament which Labour have found themselves in now.

Although the referendum outcome calls for celebration by those who so actively believe in the EU membership proposal, it is essential that we continue to show utmost tolerance to the views of others in the weeks now leading to the general election, even when outright misinformation tests the hardest nerves.

There is much that the island has to do if it wants to share the benefits of EU membership. But the effort to bring about the kind of development we have been talking about for so long will only yield maximum results if it is done by all of us together, Nationalists and Labourites. Indeed, neither the Nationalists nor Labourites can work on their own. We have to work as one nation.

With one win in the bag, the majority have to remain resolute in their belief that the EU is our best choice and go on to confirm this in the general election of April 12.