Calling an early election can never be an easy decision – I know this from experience. You take it because you consider there is no serious alternative. The perspective is mainly that of the national interest, but you have to take into account too the interests of the party you represent.

I had to face such a decision in 1998. I knew that there was a big risk the outcome could swing the political pendulum back towards a direction I was against. However, there was no other alternative.

At the time, the Labour government was following a long and tough agenda of change and modernisation. Against it, like the present, enormous reactionary forces had mobilised. The agenda stretched from deep reforms in the dockyards, to a change in relations with the EU, to the setting up of new structures in government entities plus a relentless drive against corruption.

Without a stable majority in Parliament, none of this could be sensibly carried out. In the Labour group there existed an interest that was mainly dedicated to the preservation of a personal power, archaic and occult. The government’s efforts were not going to be credible in the absence of a reliable parliamentary majority.

So, there was no real alternative to an early election.

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Corruption

I am surprised that according to PN spokespersons, the EPP group in the European Parliament is concerned about the allegations regarding corruption being made in Malta, the smallest member state of the EU.

At present, the Spanish media are overflowing with stories about the corruption that has continued to flourish within Spain’s Popular Party under the leadership of Mariano Rajoy, the Prime Minister. He has stayed quiet, saying next to nothing, letting things ride. Some of the most powerful barons in his party are involved in the scandals. And the story has been going on for years.

With Brexit, Spain is now the EU’s third or fourth largest memberstate. How is it possible that the EPP group is getting disturbed about Malta but not at all about the turmoil in Spain over corruption issues?

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MEPs

The loose talk about MEPs and the monies they are paid never ceases. I have never been bothered about this matter, which is quite puerile. The problem for me has always been whether MEPs have, can have, enough political power to affect European developments.

Now, I can confirm I was right to harbour such doubts. The EP constitutes a good forum for discussion and study, but not for decisions about the future of Europe. The Parliament carries out important functions but they are not crucial.

The fact remains that faced with accusations that MEPs are loaded with cash and perks, we must watch out against abusive deployment of payments received. Marine Le Pen is at present under investigation about the utilisation by her party and herself of parliamentary allowances.

For this reason, the information that has been published about how the PN leans on its MEPs for them to rent their constituency offices from the party is disquieting.