AD urges PM to intervene on denied access to referendum observers

Speaking during a press conference that made a final appeal to the electorate to vote Yes for divorce in Saturday’s election, AD Chairperson Michael Briguglio denounced Electoral Commissioner Saviour Gauci’s attitude with the media when he refused to answer any questions and explain why the Commission refused observer status to the European Greens.

Gauci said that the reason was not in the public interest to know, triggering the media present to insist for replies.

During the press conference, Michael Briguglio stressed that the Electoral Commission must explain the motivatations for refusal. “We demand replies,” he said.

Arnold Cassola, AD’s spokesman for European Affairs said that the way the Electoral Commission was behaving was making the country a laughing stock in Europe.

“What we are seeing here is typical of a PN and PL dominance of an Electoral Commission that rather than seing to the citizens concerns, responds only to their master’s voice,” Cassola said, adding that the Prime Minister must intervene to stop this abuse.

Regarding Saturday’s vote, Michael Briguglio said that the basic issue in the divorce referendum is that whilst a Yes vote will allow people to chose No in their personal lives, a No for divorce does not allow people to chose Yes in their personal lives.

“AD is confident that the referendum can be won, if people stand up and be counted,” Briguglio said, adding an appeal to those in favour of divorce to vote Yes.

Abstention from voting would play into the hands of the fundamentalists, who through their misinformation and scaremongering, want Malta to remain without this basic civil right, he said.

AD Deputy Chairperson Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer stressed that one should vote Yes because adults have a right to make their own decisions about whether they want to make their own decisiuons on whether they want to stay single, remarry or to cohabit with their partner once their previous marriage has irrevocably failed.