Referendum Dishonesty

maltastar.com

The weekend message by the PN reveals concern that the EU issue is slipping out of their hands.

As the process passes from the general to the specific, former off-handed pro-EU sympathisers are getting concerned by the thick layer of cosmetics the government is having to apply to put a brave face on the issue.

“People have good reason to question whether in fact they are being given the sugar coating before the sour taste of the pill eventually emerges“

And these cosmetics, strangely enough, came in the form of price reductions which in other times would have guaranteed the government applause and support. But being bitten by undelivered promises of easy flow of Lm100 million p.a. from the EU, people thankfully seem to have learned to accept nothing at face value.

How could a government strapped with huge fiscal deficit and an energy corporation which has projected a net loss for the current financial year, afford to lower the price of petrol when the international price of oil has increased, and sharply so? How could the government create the mirage of lower prices for local agricultural produce which will start being subsidised by direct payments from our tax money, when prices for imported food commodities will have to be increased upon membership?

People have good reason to question whether in fact they are being given the sugar coating before the bitter taste of the pill eventually emerges. And they are reacting against insults to their intelligence.

The same applies to the question of the referendum. The weekend brought appeals from all quarters for consensus on the EU issue. Even the bishops thought this was imperative though they steered clear from saying on which side the consensus should fall.

“But the general election should not be automatic mandate for EU membership “

The Prime Minister said that Labour should sacrifice their view to reach consensus on the government‘s point of view in favour of membership. It did not even cross the Prime Minister’s mind that consensus may also be reached on the point of view of the Opposition for a special relationship. Or indeed if consensus on either position is impossible we could do what most people do in such circumstances where consensus is necessary but unachievable. We could reach a consensus on the status quo and re-visit the matter in a couple of years’ time in the light of unfolding circumstances.

And particular circumstances should unfold in the next two years. On the local front we will have a general election. If Labour wins, as is quite likely, we are just wasting a lot of energy and money for nothing. Labour will slow down or freeze the membership process while it negotiates the partnership proposal. It would be far more preferable to do so without having a referendum in the bag even if the referendum result were to be the most favourable for Labour’s current position.

“The Prime Minister has a unique opportunity to prove he really wants national unity on the EU.“

If on the other hand the PN were to be forgiven all domestic failures and get re-elected, then the position would be quite resolved, whatever the consequences. And yes the Prime Minister is right. Even if this were to happen the government would still need to hold a referendum even though the referendum outcome would then be almost a forgone conclusion.

But the general election should not be an automatic mandate for EU membership. Joining the EU is an irreversible decision binding not just the next government but presumably all future governments. This requires a specific decision in a referendum which is held at some distance from the general election to allow proper focus and to avoid voting strictly along party lines.

The government’s wants to have the referendum just before an election as a political tool to weaken the opposition for the election which would come hot on heels of the referendum. So in the same breath that the Prime Minister is pleading for national consensus and for taking the referendum outside the political arena, he himself is planning to use the referendum as the last remaining tool to save his party’s skin at the next election.

The only possible solution which is truly in the national interest is the following:

• Consensus on the status quo and to re-visit the EU issue after the next general election

• Consensus on an EU referendum following the elections and upon termination of accession negotiation, if the elected government proceeds with the quest for membership.

• Holding an election as soon as practical to ensure that an eventual referendum before accession could be held at a considerable distance from the election to guarantee focus on the issue and a non-partisan suffrage

By that time things would have possibly unfolded even externally, with progress in the convention on the future of the EU taking some shape to suggest whether we could be joining a flexible EU of diversity or a rigid central federalist EU, where as a small nation state on the southern periphery of Europe we would have little prospect for sovereign survival.

The Prime Minister has a unique opportunity to prove he really wants national unity on the EU. The opportunity to hold an early election whilst EU negotiations are still in progress so that this country can elect a government with a mandate term long enough to execute its policies and to give the country a definite sense of direction. Anything less than this is just opportunism and empty talk about consensus when in fact they mean submission.