The involvement of the European Court of Justice in matters pertaining to the way judges and magistrates are appointed in Malta shows that the country’s sovereignty has been hindered by Malta’s European Union membership, Labour MEP Alfred Sant said.

Writing on Facebook, the former Prime Minister said that Malta’s Constitution, the best democratic tool we have had since Independence, is now subject to a decision by a foreign institution on matters that strictly regard the administration of the country.

“We were supposed to have joined the EU after there was a unanimous agreement that in Malta there existed all the necessary safeguards in the running of the country as other members have,” Sant wrote. “It’s shameful.”

He also criticised the “derisory attitude” of those who pose as saints to say that there are too many Labourites among the members of the judiciary. “Where were they when during so many decades, with their own way of thinking, the judiciary was tainted in blue?”, he asked.

“I’m speaking from experience,” he concluded.

Sant was referring to a decision taken by Mr Justice Mark Chetcuti to refer a case against the method used for the selection of judges and magistrates to the European Court of Justice.