Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/768342
maltatoday, SATURDAY, 31 DECEMBER 2016 4 TIM DIACONO PLANS by a newly fledged anti-immigra- tion party to force a referendum against the "forced integration" of migrants look set to fall foul of the law. The Moviment Patrijotti Maltin has for the past two years been gathering signatures from the public in an attempt to force the government to call a referendum against "forced integration". The group's leader, Henry Battistino, said that around 20,000 people have signed the petition so far and that the group's target is to obtain 34,000 signatures. However, leading lawyer Prof. Ian Refalo explained to MaltaToday that the only type of referenda that can be forced through peti- tions are abrogative ones – that is referenda to repeal specific laws. To do that, petitioners must convince 10% of the electorate to sign their petition – equivalent to some 34,000 eligible voters. Such a tactic has only been employed suc- cessfully once so far in Malta – for the 2015 spring hunting referendum that unsuccess- fully attempted to repeal a legal notice that allowed the government to derogate from the EU's nature laws. "Legally, the government can call a consul- tative referendum on anything it wants to but signatures can only be gathered to call for an abrogative referendum," Refalo said. "It doesn't seem to me that there is a par- ticular law that allows for integration." When confronted with this legal argu- ment, Battistino bullishly claimed that the referendum can be held regardless. "I'm not a law professor and neither are you, but I believe in democracy and 20,000 people have signed our petition so far," he told MaltaToday. "Once we reach our target of 34,000 signatures, then we can start talk- ing about the technicalities. First we'll get the signatures, and then we'll take it from there and decide on our next move. There are ways and means. Laws have changed be- fore…" Battistino added that the "establishment" will not look kindly on the referendum, but that it will gain popular support from the man in the street. The Moviment Patrijotti Maltin, which will contest the general election, on Satur- day lambasted the government for accepting €93 million in EU funds for migration and security projects, including a specialized unit at Mater Dei to deal with highly infectious diseases and Maltese and English language courses for migrants. The funds will also be used to help with Malta's pledged relocation of migrants from Italy and Greece, as well as to purchase a new aircraft and other vehi- cles for the Armed Forces and new scanning equipment for the Customs Department. "It is shameful that the government is ac- cepting these funds to appease illegal and irregular immigrants to supposedly inte- grate them into Maltese society, at the same time as the Maltese people are facing wage stagnation, soaring rent prices and a de- graded environment, all as a result to this invasion," the Patrijotti said in a statement. "The money should instead be used to help the 100,000 Maltese people who are living in poverty and to lift thousands of Maltese people out of illiteracy." tdiacono@mediatoday.com.mt News On the right, conservatives still unable to find common ground YANNICK PACE TWO lobby groups that have shown themselves to be effective at mobilizing people on the con- servative and far-right ends of the spectrum are, respectively, the pro-life network led by, amongst others, Gift Of Life president Paul Vincenti, and the Ghaqda Patri- jotti Maltin (Patrijotti). Both movements, as well as Ivan Grech Mintoff's fringe right-wing eurosceptic formation Alleanza Bidla, are attempting to fill in the cracks from the mainstream par- ties, where voters seem to be con- cerned about 'nativist' concerns like identity, culture and the ef- fects of migration. Paul Vincenti was one of the first to demand that MPs take up the call of what he terms 'Christian conservatives', in the face of gov- ernment policies that are making a clear separation between Church and State. A vocal critic of government policy – Vincenti says it threat- ens Christian values – he runs a Facebook group called 'The New Christian movement – Business Page', which aims to "give Chris- tians and conserv- atives their voice back in Maltese party politics". "We want to weed out the can- didates, from both parties, that rep- resent Christian values," he said, adding that these values have been completely disre- garded by both the Labour and Na- tionalist parties. "The time is right for someone to pose a serious challenge to the PL-PN establishment. The parties are secure because there is no al- ternative. They are not being chal- lenged and are moving forward with their policies in search of the liberal vote. They are pandering to minorities, at the expense of tradi- tional values," said Vincenti. He stressed that Christians do have 'red lines', such as life and the family. "Inroads have been made on both fronts by the left. This has alienated a lot of voters," he said. "We still don't know who to vote for." But asked the possibility of the group developing into a party come the election, Vincenti said, "[the New Christian Movement] may consider an offshoot" but in- sisted that the group's main aim remains that of informing the Christian vote. The Patrijotti, on the other hand, have already stated their intention to contest and have had their reg- istration accepted by the Electoral Commission. Could a coalition with the Patrijotti work? One ma- jor stumbling block, according to Vincenti, is that the group is too focused on one issue. "I don't feel comfortable voting for them as yet because I don't fully know what they represent." He said he would be more inclined to support Alleanza Bidla, because its leader, Ivan Grech Mintoff, has been very clear about where the group stands on a range of issues. "They [small parties and lobby groups] have all tried to pull us to their side, however our position remains: prove to us that you should get the Christian vote and we will then inform Christians and let them decide for themselves," he said. Patrijotti president Henry Battis- tino also pointed out several fac- tors that would be problematic in a pro-life movement-Patrijotti part- nership. For instance, he feels the Patrijotti have been "stigmatized" by the church. "This is ironic be- cause we are the only party de- fending Christianity," he said. The party has in the recent past led protests against granting a planning permit for a mosque and prayer room in St Paul's Bay, as well as having served pork sandwiches in a show of defiance against Muslim worshippers who took out their praying mats on the Msida waterfront. "We have ideas about the work- ing class that are more leftist than other parties, however on immigration we are more right- wing, but not far-right," Battistino claimed. Like Vincenti, he said the party he finds most agreeable is Alleanza Bidla. "They have good values and a good administration. We have some common ground, for exam- ple we are both skeptical about the EU, however our position is not identical to theirs." Battistino also said that a "liberal influence" inside the political class had resulted in the abandonment of working-class people and tra- ditional values. "I feel, now more than ever, it is important for the dominance of the two main parties to be challenged," he said. Alleanza Bidla were contacted for their position, however Grech Mintoff refused to give comments to this newspaper because of "things that were published [about him] in the past that the newspa- per is yet to apologize for". ypace@mediatoday.com.mt Paul Vincenti (left) and Victor Battistino (right) seem to find some sort of common ground with Ivan Grech Mintoff's conservative, eurosceptic formation Patriots' plan for referendum on 'forced integration' is legally impossible 'First we'll get 34,000 signatures and then we'll address the technicalities' – 'Patriot' leader brushes off concerns that referendum on integration is legally impossible Signatures can only be gathered to call for an abrogative referendum Prof. Ian Refalo The self-styled 'patriots' have been collecting signatures for a petition to call for a referendum "against forced integration" although the aims are unclear