I really appreciate the way the Malta Labour Party decided to tackle the ratification of the treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. The party opted for a discussion and, in a party with a lot of interesting and intelligent members, ideas can easily differ. After all we are not the party of mummies as Gonzi referred to us before the local council elections.

It is because of this that I would like to make reference to the article signed by Valerie Borg (TMID 19 April). I share Valerie’s idea that the internal discussion taking place in what she called the “glasshouse” will lead to the best decision in favour of the Maltese and Gozitan citizens.

But I was very disappointed at the way she made reference to former Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici. I do not think remarks such as “I rather wish he would take a very long walk and forget about the MLP” are fair with Dr Mifsud Bonnici.

After all he is an ex-leader of the party and I am convinced that all his efforts to promote his ideas (even those which I do not agree with) are and were always made with genuine intentions. Valerie also wrote “I have no doubt that the internal discussion taking place in the ‘glasshouse’ will direct Louis Grech, Joseph Muscat and John Attard Montaldo to do the right thing for Malta and the Maltese” and “Lest the people be misled by Dr Mifsud Bonnici’s writings, I beg them to heed the Labour Party and our three MEPs.”

With reference to this I would like to make two points. Firstly, in my opinion, Valerie is already misled and does not know what it is that she is talking about, as the important discussion taking place in the party is not about what direction will the party give to Louis Grech, Joseph Muscat and John Attard Montalto in their work in the European Parliament. But it is about the ratification of the Constitution in the Maltese Parliament. What our MEPs say in the European Parliament comes after and is much less important.

Secondly I do not think that all this is a matter of people being misled by Dr Mifsud Bonnici. It is a discussion and, as I stated before, when you have a discussion, ideas can easily differ. I have a big faith in the party delegates. I am sure they will not be misled by anyone. But they will make a decision in the best interest of the party and the country.

Aleander Balzan

MLP Councillor

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