Prospective Nationalist Party MEP Michael Briguglio has defended his decision to remain part of the Civil Society Network (CSN) despite the potential conflict of interest that may arise for the organisation, stressing that he had been part of politics and a civil society activist on a wide array of issues for 25 years but had never faced calls to resign until now.
The Malta Independent contacted Briguglio after Democratic Party Deputy Leader Timothy Alden questioned why he had not yet resigned from his position within the CSN, given his new role in the PN and as an MEP candidate for the party.
Explaining that he had wished to voice his concerns since last October, Alden said that he chose “to move on from the topic, despite still not approving of him being a PN councillor at the same time as head of Civil Society, despite the conflict of interest. I changed the topic because he seemed to have consent for his position from other activists, despite the result being that people assume that groups like Occupy Justice are just PN fronts, which is neither accurate nor fair.
“Now Michael is a PN MEP candidate, and the fact he is still leading Civil Society Network is being sold as a plus. It is not. It is a conflict of interest which by association discredits other movements in the same group. It is not fair. For example - people do not know that Il-Kenniesa has zero to do with CSN but the link is made anyway.
“Michael should resign from Civil Society Network and so should any inside the organisation who intend to canvass for him. The fact I was previously employed by FAA is not an excuse. I have attended environment lessons by Michael because I respect him and his past activism. However, Michael Briguglio is no longer an activist.
“He is a politician. I know it is hard to let go, Michael, but it's time to let go. It doesn't mean people, or even me someday, won't support you.”
Describing Alden’s comments as ‘partisan’, Briguglio noted that Alden, who he repeated that he respected as an environmentalist, had run in the general elections with PD while still involved with FAA.
Asked whether his role within CSN and the criticism laid against the PN and Leader Adrian Delia from other activist groups who have, in the past, associated themselves with CSN, presented a conflict of interest, Briguglio insisted that the organisation is a non-partisan a-political group which bases its focus of good governance and environmentalism.
He also noted that CSN has not held any events with Occupy Justice for the past two months.
“It was central to [CSN’s] policy that we do not agree with having sitting MPs or MEPs on stage at events. We want fresh faces, who are from across the political spectrum,” he said.
In a tweet following his announcement that he would run for MEP, Occupy Justice ‘congratulated’ Briguglio, wishing him “the best of luck and look forward to collaborating with his replacement within the Civil Society Network group.”