The Nationalist Party parliamentary group believes that Gozo should be considered as one electoral district. Gozo has its own identity and should be considered as one region, the group said in a statement signed by whip Mario Galea.

The Gozitans should have the right to vote for Gozitan candidates. If Gozo had to remain divided as an electoral district as it is now – and as it will remain if the constitutional amendment does not go through – some Gozitans would have to vote with the residents of Mellieha, St Paul’s Bay and Naxxar.

This does not make sense, and the group said Gozo should remain one district without any conditions.

The constitutional amendment as put forward by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi is an indication that the PN believed in the regionality of Gozo. It was the PN that created a Gozo Ministry and it was the PN which fought for Gozo to be recognised as a region during negotiations with the European Union.

The group will therefore be voting in favour of the constitutional amendment, which however needed a two-third majority in parliament to go through. This means that MLP MPs must also vote in favour.

The group appealed to the MLP not to deny Gozitans of this right.