[WATCH] PM plays down spring hunting campaigning concerns

Muscat says his spring hunting comments 'nothing out of the ordinary'. Video: Ray Attard

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat played down concerns that he was campaigning in favour of spring hunting, despite recently urging the electorate to vote in favour of it.

“Everybody knows my position on this issue, and speaking about it just once in the past month is nothing out of the ordinary,” Muscat told journalists, adding that the media is speaking about the issue more than he is.

Addressing a political activity in Qala yesterday, Muscat said that the spring hunting debate was a question of “tolerance and respect”.

He said that law-abiding hunters should not have to suffer because of the actions of “bullies and criminals who think they could do whatever they like”.

He said that the government would clamp down on illegal hunters, but insisted that a total ban on spring hunting would render the Maltese “less” than other EU citizens.

“I closed the last autumn hunting season when there were abuses, and I won’t shy away from doing so again,” Muscat said today. “Whatever the result of the referendum, discussion is ongoing to strengthen hunting law enforcement.”

While both Muscat and Opposition leader Simon Busuttil have publicly declared their intention to vote in favour of spring hunting, both leaders have also agreed to keep their political parties out of the referendum campaign.

However, Muscat yesterday accused Busuttil of working “against” the Yes vote and challenged him to explain why he was voting in favour of spring hunting.

“We all know that Simon Busuttil said he would be voting in favour of spring hunting, but he is working against it,” Muscat said. “It is clear that he is against spring hunting.”

When asked by MaltaToday to clarify that accusation, Muscat said that it was his belief and that journalists should raise the question to Busuttil.