Muscat on hunting referendum: ‘it’s not politicians’ discretion’

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has declared that the referendum process for the abrogation of spring hunting, was not something that was “at a politician’s discretion”, in reference to comments he made on a hunting lobby petition.

In comments to MaltaToday, Muscat said “too many people” were reading too much detail in what he had said. “The referendum process has started and it is not at the discretion of the politician. I appeal for calm, because I am seeing too many tentatives, from both lobbies, to fight against the other.”

MaltaToday asked Muscat why he had not quelled speculation that he was entertaining a request by hunters’ lobby FKNK to consider a petition they are collecting, in a bid to stop the referendum on spring hunting.

The Electoral Commission is verifying over 45,000 signatures, more than 10% of the electorate, to hold an abrogative referendum against spring hunting, whose 2014 season closed today, Wednesday, at 2pm.

Malta is allowed to derogate from an EU ban on spring hunting for the taking of 11,000 Turtle Dove and 5,000 Quail, but critics say illegal hunting and poaching remains a problem throughout the season.

CASH: speculation cannot stop legal process

Rudolph Ragonesi, one of the spokesperson for the Coalition for the Abolition of Spring Hunting, said the referendum law was clear in allowing the holding of an abrogative referendum.

“If there are legal procedures set in motion, it is up to the Constitutional Court to decide whether this referendum will take place. It’s not really important to look at the political statements being made at this time, because it is a legal process… there is no point in actually speculating when there are established procedures in place,” Ragonesi said.

AD: ‘no backroom deals’

Green party Alternattiva Demokratika said that it was “crystal clear” that both Labour and the PN prefer backroom deals when dealing with the hunting lobby.

“The Labour Party has positioned itself clearly in favour of spring hunting and against the basic principles of biodiversity. The Nationalist Party is still trying to have a foot on each side of the fence. It remains as spineless as ever,” AD deputy chairperson Carmel Cacopardo.

“Backroom deals are anything but democratic. They are a negation of democracy itself. The procedures to call an abrogative referendum are, in the current state of affairs the only democratic tool left to contest the spring hunting season.”

The petition to make a referendum on spring hunting impossible, as proposed by the FKNK, was described by Cacopardo an affront to the democratic process.

“In the coming days or maybe weeks we will know whether Labour will give the public a reply on whether it is a democratic government or not. Its position on the proposal to block the legitimate and democratic curtail the referendum process will be such a reply. The issue at stake is much more than spring hunting: it is either the democratic process or backroom deals.”