Half a Question

The Malta Independent



`Do you agree that Malta becomes a member of the European Union in the enlargement that will take place on 1 May 2004 That`s what will be asked in the referendum according to the government.` It is half a question.

Assuming that we will be expected to reply by marking a yes or no tick box the obvious question that arises for those of us voting no, is what exactly are we expected to be voting for.` Because saying that we do not agree that Malta proceeds to EU membership in the next enlargement begs the obvious question as to what exactly are we voting for.

It is like someone asking you whether you want to sleep in a filthy room.` If the alternative is to sleep in a clean room you would answer no, but if the alternative is to sleep out in the cold on a filthier street, than you would probably say yes.

`Do you agree that Malta becomes a member of the European Union in the enlargement that will take place on 1 May 2004

So the missing half of the question should read something like this: `or do you agree that Malta negotiates a special type of close partnership, but non-membership, relationship with the EU`.` In such a case the tick boxes would not be yes or no but would be membership or partnership.

For all the smooth talk of wanting the referendum to be an national one above party politics all measures taken so far indicate that government is actually planning to politicise the referendum to use its to its own political advantage. No matter how much it dislikes it, the government has to acknowledge that there is a sharp political divide on the EU membership issue which cannot be reduced to a straight yes or no flip of the coin, trying to depict those of us who oppose membership as if we are opposing the EU per se, turning our back on it and willing to close off whatever relationship we have.

Government wants us to consider one alternative only. It reminds me of the latest presidential elections in Iraq where the only contender was Saddam Hussein and the people had to vote yes or no for their all powerful leader.` The 100% subscription vote speaks much of the real choice that was on offer. or do you agree that Malta negotiates a special type of close partnership, but non-membership, relationship with the EU`

The referendum question would have been ok, if as in other candidate countries, there existed general political agreement between the government and the opposition to proceed on the road to membership. `In that case the people would have no choice and it would take a political upheaval leading to the creation of a different political scenario if the people in such candidate countries would defy their politicians and vote no to EU membership.

The situation here is different. Even if Labour are 100% wrong, which of course they are not, one cannot but accept that Labour is the formal opposition representing , give or take a bit, half the population. The government cannot behave as if it had no opposition.` Government cannot assume it has eternal power tenure and treat the opposition as an ornament needed purely to formalise its democratic credentials.

It is time for our Prime Minister to behave like a statesman not just a party leader. He should seek an agreement with Labour for a commitment for a post-election binding referendum with the electorate choosing between membership and partnership and proceed to call an early general election before the fallacy of 2002/2003 budget projections get too much further exposed.