MLP warned against 'playing around' with figures

The chairman of Alternattiva Demokratika, The Green Party, has criticised the recommendations made by the Labour Party on the EU referendum.

Harry Vassallo said the MLP leadership seemed to be aware that there exists a pro-EU membership democratic majority, and might try to interpret the result in a way that suits it most, irrespective of the democratic verdict of the people.

"The MLP seems to lack the courage of its convictions by refusing to simply call for a no vote. Instead, Labour is also recommending that people should invalidate their vote or not to vote at all.

"AD hopes that the MLP leadership will respect the result of the referendum, no matter which way it goes. We also hope that the MLP leadership will not play around with figures and percentages in an attempt to distort the democratic result of the referendum," Dr Vassallo said.

"The result should simply be decided on the basis of whether there is a larger yes or no vote.

"In Malta's general elections, abstentions and invalid votes do not form part of the official result, as otherwise practically no government would have had a clear majority. Similarly, in no way can abstentions from voting and invalid votes be added with the yes or no vote, and if democracy is respected no play with figures and percentages can reverse this basic assumption," he argued.