PM Asks Malta's Forgiveness

by Robert Lee, Tax-News.com, London

21 March 2003

Maltese Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami has asked the nation's "forgiveness" in the run-up to the election and implored the people not to overturn the EU referendum result by voting for Labour leader Alfred Sant.

In a speech which must call into question his decision to call an election so soon after the referendum, he told a mass meeting: "To those who feel hurt, I tell them to forgive us. I ask for forgiveness because in the interest of the country this is not the right time to pay us back." He continued: "I urge them to see the full picture... there will be a new spring for everyone."

Attacking Sant's continued assertions that the referendum result was won with an effective minority vote, the Prime Minister countered:

"The referendum result is crystal clear. It is the biggest victory ever registered in any election or referendum. Fifty-four per cent believe that Malta's future will be best secured as a member of the EU."

"We have to understand the gravity of the situation. In normal democracies the issue of EU membership would have ended as soon as the referendum result was known. However, in Malta we have a leader of opposition who does not apply the principles of democracy," the PM continued in a thinly veiled attack on Sant's political ethics. He assured the gathering: "I am doing my utmost to ensure that after April 12 there will be a government that will respect the verdict of the people in favour of Malta's EU membership."

The Prime Minister spoke on other issues affecting the island such as employment, the SME sector, education, health and the environment and the war on Iraq.

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