Mifsud Bonnici urges delegates to abstain on EU Constitution

The lukewarm reception Labour Party delegates reserved for former party leader Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici contrasted sharply with the standing ovation they gave former deputy leader George Vella during the first of a three-day general conference, yesterday.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici who is arguing that the reservations the MLP has about the EU Constitution treaty will only bind the party said in an emotionally-charged speech that he had "no intention of splitting or harming the party".

He went on to explain why the party should abstain from voting when the European Constitution is discussed in parliament.

Following a series of speeches yesterday, delegates will be asked to take a secret vote tomorrow on whether the MLP parliamentary group should vote in favour or against the ratification of the European Constitution.

"Not only do I not want to harm the party, I wish all the best for the Party till the end of my life," he said.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said he had come out against the EU Constitution and against the possibility that the MLP ratifies it a year ago.

"I am not out to crush anyone in the Party. I am only against the European Constitution. So those who are saying that I am out to destroy someone are being unfair to me," said Dr Mifsud Bonnici.

The former leader said delegates should not be afraid to differ because the conference was the forum where different opinions could be expressed.

"What discussion would it be if we sound only one bell?" he asked, adding that different opinions did not mean the Party was split.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said the Labour Party had won the support of the majority in three elections after EU accession because the people had "realised that the Nationalists had fooled them".

He insisted that the Labour Party should now be consistent with the decision it had taken in November 2003, when the same conference had decided it would work to lessen the burdens brought about by accession.

According to Dr Mifsud Bonnici, unemployment, withering social services and pensions and the cost of living increase came about as a result of accession, which is why the Labour Party should not become "an accomplice with those who had sold our country".

"What credibility would we have if we voted for the treaty that we had said was not beneficial for Malta? How can we vote for a Constitution that prevails over the Maltese Constitution?" he asked.

He said the MLP should feel honoured to vote against a foreign Constitution that would prevail over the Maltese Constitution.

"We should not fall for the trap and accept something which has been forced on us like idiots," insisted Dr Mifsud Bonnici.

George Vella, who spoke on behalf of the parliamentary group, said he felt uneasy speaking against Dr Mifsud Bonnici's views.

He said the Labour Party had accepted the will of the majority after it suffered a defeat in the 2003 election, and now the MLP had to be consistent with the policy change that had been sealed in the November 2003 general conference.

"No country can live in isolation. If the Labour Party remained undecided on the EU issue, Malta will suffer," Dr Vella said.

"If we do vote against the Constitution, we would not rid ourselves of the obligations we have as EU members. We have an obligation to pave the way for a return to office in the next general election and we cannot afford to indulge in whims at this point in time," Dr Vella said.

The party cannot afford to lose time over legal issues and overlook the political dimension of the decision it had to take, he said.

"We respect Dr Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici's views but one should be careful not to scare away those Labour Party supporters who were in favour of the EU and who were won back when the party changed its course on the EU issue," Dr Vella said..

Earlier, the party approved a 27-page document on Economic And Social Regeneration For Malta and Gozo, a plan that had been discussed in Party circles and presented to the civil society over the past year.

The plan stressed the need for a revival of the economy and for a clear commitment by the MLP in government to "safeguard the welfare state".

The conference will resume today. Delegates are being urged to vote for a motion which states that the opposition votes in favour of the EU Constitution in Parliament this month, albeit with five reservations.