The Iva Movement has taken Labour Party general secretary Jimmy Magro to task and described his comments over the holding of the European Union referendum as "arrogant" and "anti-democratic".
The movement was reacting to a story in last Saturday`s The Times, in which Mr Magro was quoted as saying that the MLP had not excluded a boycott of the EU referendum and that only a general election was binding.
Iva Movement general secretary David Casa described the holding of a referendum as the ultimate tool of democracy.
Furthermore, the public expected that the pre-electoral promise would be honoured, and that Malta`s entry to the European Union would take place following a `yes` vote from the people.
"The declaration by the MLP general secretary is arrogant and goes against the people`s wishes. Thanks to the referendum it will be the people who will advise the political leaders about the future of the country, but this is not acceptable to Mr Magro."
Mr Casa asked whether all the members of the Labour Party agreed with the declaration that only an election would be binding.
"If this is the case, why shouldn`t it be the verdict of the last general election which is binding?" he asked.
During a speech to the Convention on the Future of Europe last week, Opposition leader Alfred Sant said that his party would use all the democratic means to convince people that the best route is the one chosen by the MLP.
"What democratic means is there in ignoring the result of a referendum? What is the MLP`s choice: to ignore the referendum verdict, or to boycott the referendum? Are MLP sympathisers ready to forgo this right?"
Mr Casa urged the public to open their eyes and evaluate such speeches by opinion makers. Democracy required that political parties listen to opinions, not dictate.
"The EU is a democratic guarantee to the citizen and that is why Malta should look towards Europe.
"Democracy in Malta could be threatened once again if we do not form part of the EU. We are expecting valid and democratic answers from the Labour Party," Mr Casa said.