Despite the obligation of "creating an ever closer of union among the peoples of Europe" and the Community objective to "strengthen the protection of the rights and interests of the nationals of its Member States through the introduction of a citizenship of the Union" as set out by the Maastricth Treaty, the Maltese authorities still struck off a thousand eligible voters off the electoral register. Perhaps giving EU nationals the right to vote is a red line issue as well?

It is good news that the Australian Labour government has finally recognized that de facto same sex couples should have the same rights as de facto opposite-sex couples. In essence the legislative reform states a gay couple is no different than a heterosexual couple. Unfortunately Kevin Rudd falls short of recognizing same-sex marriages. Nonetheless it is a big step in the right direction.

MEP Simon Busuttil is right when he states that “In Malta the Labour Party shuns immigration and plays the veto card, but in Brussels the Socialists play a different tune and want to give migrants voting rights.” In any case, I am glad that migrants, living in the EU for five years are to be given the right of free movement and to participate in the democratic process, albeit in local elections.

The Labour Party would have emerged a true winner if it had the decency to adopt a policy on immigration that clearly stresses the democratic and humanist politic of migration, such as the recognition that migrants do have a dynamic role to play in Europe, the need for integration and the spirit of a welcoming environment plus the right for democratic participation. At the same time it could have made the very reasonable emphasis that "integration is very much a two-way process, and also requires adjustments on behalf of the population of the host state"whilst emphasising also on the need for solidarity at a European and global level.

Instead it chose to play to irrational sentiments of alarm and panic whilst hiding under that awful notion we all know as "the national interest" to garner a vote or two from disillusioned hardcore nationalists and those who unfortunately believe that migrants are coming to destroy Malta. Whilst it could prove to be an ingenious move in terms of political strategy, the end result is that it is completely out of synch with European progressives and socialism in general on this issue.

EDIT: Labour MEPs did in fact vote against the 'right to vote' clause which admittedly proves the party's consistency on the issue. I wonder if they knew however that the right to vote was not vis-a-vis illegal immigrants but legal migrants such as refugees. The sad matter is that it baffles me as to why they are in the PES. Their actions give the impression that a European progressive majority is a threat to Malta.

Hypocrisy is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “the practice of claiming to have higher standards or beliefs than is the case.” I believe that such practise or practises are most ordinary on the islands of Malta. In fact, they seem to be the order of the day.

I turn now to illegal immigration. As such, civil rights haven’t got much in common with illegal immigration but like divorce, illegal immigration is a hot topic currently being debated by society and views on immigration also have a role to play in the MEP elections. Unlike civil rights, illegal immigration is not governed by morality. As much as I try to understand why, I cannot. You may ask genuine questions such as:

1. Is it moral to send these people back to their homeland when you know they will be maltreated, abused, tortured?
2. Is it moral to send them back to Libya which did not even ratify the Geneva Convention and which surely cannot boast of its human rights record?
3. Is it moral to keep them locked up for 18 months in horrific and inhumane conditions; to ridicule and humiliate them and brand them with illegality even when they have applied for asylum?
4. Or is it moral to treat them as human beings, with dignity and respect even if they do not deserve international protection?
   

You ask all that of these questions and you might as well dig your own grave. Despite Msgr. Grech’s courageous Christian message on detention, Christianity somehow does not feature in illegal immigration. Despite the countless Biblical verses that profess loving and welcoming the ‘stranger’ these are somehow not considered ‘the laws of God’.

Ideally religion would have nothing to do with issues such as divorce and illegal immigration because in an ideal world we would respect each other’s choices despite our personal faith and treat human beings with dignity without religion having to tell us to do so. But a world which is obstinately governed by “morality” on a wide range of issues and by a sheer lack of it in others (where it ought to feature the most!) is not an ideal world. It is a world governed by hypocrisy and what truly pains me is that this hypocrisy is not merely the fruit of ignorance but practised even by the wisest of the wise.

Dear friends, we can all be united under the banner of solidarity, which solidarity is admittedly plain hard to get (thus all the more reason to stand united), but let us not unite under the banner of hypocrisy. It is not worthy.

It no longer makes any sense to keep harping about immigration statistics, the politics of asylum and diplomacy. The situation is what it is. Unfortunately every nation needs a public enemy to unite it and this time its not the colonizer but the migrant - both equally "invaders". An overwhelming 84% majority* believe that immigration is a crisis despite concrete figures showing otherwise. A shocking 4.3%* want them to die in the sea, and this percentage will only grow. The Nationalist government, particularly the justice ministry, plays with words and conveniently transforms the issue from non-crisis to a crisis as it sees fit and when it interests it. And in the meantime, the Labour Party's undiplomatic 20-point migration plan will stand to gain support while AD stands in the sidelines applauding this abhorrent charade. There is absolutely no hope for the migrant's plight here who incidentally now finds himself in the midst of a tug-of-war between Malta and Italy.

All of the above was becoming more and more obvious with each passing day and it is for such reasons that I started hoping the supranational EU institutions would be more humane and assertive. But I am now starting to lose faith in them as well. This passive pan-European attitude will forever be a stain on the so-called democratic heart of the world. It is true that the EU has other major issues to deal with, particularly managing the fiscal crisis but in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea there is a boatload of human beings wanting to live life as is their right. Instead, they do not even exist. Shame on Malta and Italy for this sad state of affairs and shame on Europe as well for being nothing more then a spectator.

*Both statistics were gathered from Maltatoday (publication 05.04.2009): http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2009/04/05/t1.html

I’m not going to beat around the bush. One of the greatest enemies of the left is the left itself. As harsh as it may sound I feel that this is not some hidden reality but in many occasions manifestly obvious. However, it need not be so.

Let me start by eliciting the irony of the left. It stems from the fact that there are many ‘lefts’ ranging from the extreme, e.g. communism and anarcho-syndicalism, to the more moderate social democracy and environmentalism. Now, whilst a wide range of ideas and choices is good for democracy it is ironically bad news for the left which at the end of the day aspires to govern. This may not be the case in Malta (unlike Italy for example) but even if it were it is not something one can do much about.

My statement becomes justified when, for instance, we see socialists quarrelling with socialists, unions fighting amongst each other like there’s no tomorrow and greens/environmental organisations fearing any kind of association with the left. We witness this sad state of affairs every day and as we rip each other apart conservative neoliberals rub their hands in glee. If you think about it, even if it is not of our doing, we are partially and indirectly responsible for creating a world order based on greed and environmental corruption.

Yet the left truly becomes its own greatest enemy when it becomes the victim of hopelessness. I’ve seen people who, like me, dream of another world, where social justice, civil liberties and environmental concerns are the norm and not the exception. “But in Malta”, they say, “such things aren’t possible. It’s best to pack your bags and leave.” Well, with that attitude, I’m sorry to say, nothing will ever be possible in Malta.

I think the time to construct a renewed hegemonic left has come. I know, for to long now have we been mulling and moping about our existence and our future that it’s becoming almost unbearable. But I’m not considering theoretical prospects…I believe that we should go for it. The time to put an end to trivialities and instead seek unity has never been greater. It may be easier said than done but where there is a will there is a way. Let us not forget that when social movements were united, particularly when green NGOs and other organisations were united they won. Such events should not be eschewed but developed and built upon.

There exist plausible arguments against coalitions and alliances which may initially rise to glory only to fall into some disagreement later and vote each other out of power. It may be wise to keep things as they are… each to his own. It may also be said that leftist parties were successful without any such unity. But whilst a leftist party may win from time to time the fact remains that a political lobby governed solely by capitalist interests will always be stronger. Besides, I’m not such a big fan of defeatist logic.

I agree with the proposal that in Malta we should form an umbrella coalition of socialists, greens, leftist and environmental NGOs which should unite and support each other on a wide range of issues. If not for electoral purposes, at least as a forum where ideas can be consolidated and solidarity strengthened. If we truly want to create a successful hegemony based on social and environmental justice we must not fear taking such bold steps. Unfortunately such suggestions have so far fallen on deaf ears.

It is always better to be allies instead of enemies because in unity there is strength and in strength there is victory.

I feel sorry for the Italian nation and its people after having suffered a natural disaster which has claimed dozens of lives. My sincere condolences and sympathy go out to the families and friends that have lost their loved ones, their homes and places of work. I hope that they will manage to pick up the pieces and move on and somehow find comfort and peace of mind if such things are possible. Yet, and I apologise for the offence that my following statement may imply given the circumstances, I am even more distraught by their choice of Premier.

The "people of freedom" are run by a lunatic. Mind you, I quite enjoy his blatant disrespect for protocol and his gaffes never cease to amuse but there is something about him that really and truly pisses me off. Perhaps it is because he is so full of himself and that he thinks he is some Roman deity strutting around Europe doing whatever pleases him. And just like Roman deities he believes that somehow the law does not apply to him - that he is above the law. And yet he manages "The people of freedom": a coalition of conservative neoliberals and (ex?) fascists.

Perhaps the reason I'm so flamed is because it is thanks to these kind of people that we now find ourselves in a global financial crisis and because these kind of people are more concerned with bashing gypsies and migrants in the name of national interests than with creating more jobs, equality and the fight against climate change. Yes, the Italians have a W. of their own, hell-bent on forging some whimsical self-glorifying legacy than with what really matters.

Also if the implications of this Euronews report turn out to be completely factual, I hope Berlusconi is given the impeachement and criminal trial he truly deserves. Of course he may draw a trick or two from W.'s magical book of immunities that saved his ass in the Hurricane Katrina tragedy. Then again, Berlusconi is so thoroughly versed in legal immunity he probably doesn't need to lift a finger, except unless he wants to look like a proper git just like in the photo above.

Newly appointed President Dr. George Abela is going to have a tough time tearing down the metaphorical Berlin Wall that splits Malta in half. Post-independence, national unity was and is always hard to come by. With no public enemy for the entire Maltese nation to vent about, (we) now tend to unite for all the wrong reasons such as in the fear and loathing of migrants. Otherwise the harsh political and social polarities that choke the country on a daily basis still endure.

I cannot fathom any modern nation in the world where unity reigns supreme. That would either be a utopia or a very dull place to live in. Yet the Maltese divide falls on the most petty things. This may be the direct result of ignorance but I feel that we are all to blame, ignorant or not. Some may even go as far as to suggest that petty division is embedded in the Mediterranean genome...you know the enmity between rival band clubs, football supporters and what not.

Yet it is a very admirable gesture on President Abela's behalf to build his presidency on 'unity in diversity'. Give or take the few who are not fond of him for personal and/or political reasons I think many of us agree that he is the right man for the job. Almost one year ago, when the leadership campaign for the Labour Party was in full swing, I did not support George Abela because I felt he was too moderate and a tad bit conservative to lead a party on the left of the political spectrum. But a committed moderate is what we need to take the country in the direction of unity.

The newly elected president has a long and winding road ahead of him and I wish him the very best. The problem is - does the Presidency have the potential to bring about such a change?

It is at times like these when I'm proud to be a progressive.

"The Socialists, Greens, Communists and Liberals formed a majority to support granting immigrants the opportunity to vote in local elections." (MEPs seek voting rights for immigrants)

The Socialists, Greens, Communists and Liberals should unite more often. Well done.