After the vote in the European Parliament committee, at which he was saved by Alfred Sant’s vote, as discovered by our sister Sunday paper, Leo Brincat faces today the vote by the entire European Parliament.

We report today that the European People’s Party, the biggest group in the Parliament, decided to vote against Mr Brincat’s candidacy. In today’s issue we also report on rumours that the Socialist camp is divided on the issue.

Whatever the result, and whatever what many in Malta might think, this is not the end of the story. The final decision will be taken by the Council, which might over-rule the EP vote, which is not binding.

But even before the MEPs vote this noon, Leo’s candidacy is already flawed. The fact itself he had to be saved by fellow Maltese Socialist Alfred Sant in a somewhat freak, though valid, vote, speaks volumes.

Just before this point, Toni Abela called it a day even before submitting himself to the EP vote. Mr Brincat might have been emboldened by the slender majority he obtained, or reckoned that the fact his majority consisted of Dr Sant would not become known.

But Toni Abela was not grilled about the Panama Papers nor did he vote in favour of Konrad Mizzi in Parliament. Leo Brincat is thus in a more weak position than Dr Abela ever was.

Things have changed in the EU since Dr Abela’s negative vote. There is now a keener appreciation of the importance of transparency in financial dealings, in the importance of avoiding any semblance of a financial haven and that allegations of scandals and of corruption fuel Eurosceptic and xenophobic parties all over Europe.

Coming at the very beginning of the Autumn Term, the EP members are back from their holidays and keen to establish their reputation. They could also be daring the Council to overturn their decision.

We will see how it goes at noon today. But even now, before the decision is taken, the fact that an entire party in the EP, and the biggest one at that, decided to vote against Malta’s candidate is a signal that all is not well, whatever the government may say, in Malta’s perception out there.

We knew before today that the PN MEPs were about to vote against Mr Brincat. There could be no other way about it. To vote in favour of Mr Brincat would be to vote in favour of an MP who had voted in favour of a minister that has been caught out having a company in Panama. It is not out of partisan reasons  they will be voting against, but rather because to vote otherwise would be in defiance of all the EPP principles.

Obviously, the government spin will be that these three are traitors for not voting in favour of a Maltese candidate. While this spin may get traction in  Malta where many do not understand the basics of politics, there must be an immediate counter-spin that says it is the government of Joseph Muscat which brought this about. He kept Konrad Mizzi as a minister, Parliament was made to vote in favour of Mizzi, he sent a man who was turned back and then he sent a replacement who had, in the eyes of some or many MEPs, worse credentials.

Toni Abela, when he saw how things were going, took the right decision and stepped back. Leo Brincat would be foolhardy to think he can survive today’s vote.