Kwistjonijiet dwar is-saltna tad-dritt qed jintużaw bħala ballun politiku – Alfred Sant

Fl-intervent tiegħu fil-plenarja tal-Parlament Ewropew fi Strasburgu dwar is-saltna tad-dritt u l-libertà tal-midja fil-Greċja, l-eks Prim Ministru Alfred Sant qal li huwa m’għandux fiduċja fl-approċċi ssettjati mill-Parlament Ewropew biex jiġu riveduti każijiet dwar ksur tas-saltna tad-dritt fl-Istati Membri Ewropej. Minn naħa irrikonoxxa li l-kwistjonijiet tas-saltna tad-dritt għandhom rwol ċentrali għall-identità tal-unjoni u jeħtieġ li jibqgħu hekk. Min-naħa l-oħra, Sant ħeġġeġ lill-Parlament Ewropew biex jikkunsidra kwistjonijiet bħal dawn b’mod ġust u oġġettiv. “Fil-Parlament Ewropew jidher li għadna ‘l bogħod milli naslu biex napplikaw dan l-approċċ”, huwa sostna.

Ir-Riżoluzzjoni dwar is-saltna tad-dritt u l-libertà tal-midja fil-Greċja esprimiet tħassib kbir dwar it-theddid għad-demokrazija, is-saltna tad-dritt u d-drittijiet fundamentali. Il-Parlament ħeġġeġ lill-gvern Grieg biex jindirizza dawn il-kwistjonijiet b’urġenza billi jiżgura pluraliżmu tal-midja u investigazzjonijiet imparzjali fost oħrajn. Barra minn hekk, ir-Riżoluzzjoni enfasizzat il-ħtieġa għal djalogu kostruttiv bejn il-gvern Grieg u l-Parlament Ewropew.

L-Ewroparlamentari Laburista Alfred Sant saħaq li ħafna drabi kwistjonijiet dwar is-saltna tad-dritt jitqiesu b’mod diviżiv u partiġġjan, u jintużaw bħala ballun politiku. Huwa nnota li l-problemi serji ma jingħatawx importanza biżżejjed filwaqt li dwar kwistjonijiet trivjali jitqajjem kjass esaġerat fuqu skont liema gvern ikun qed jiġi investigat.

“Dan ġara diversi drabi fil-każ ta’ Malta. Sakemm ma jiġux riformati kompletament il-proċeduri li bihom każi dwar allegat ksur tas-saltna tad-dritt, dawn se jibqgħu jifformaw proċess difettuż u mhux konvinċenti”, huwa sostna.

Ir-Riżoluzzjoni ġiet adottata bi 330 vot favur, 254 vot kontra u 26 astensjoni. Alfred Sant 

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Rule of law issues are being treated like political football – Alfred Sant

In his intervention at the plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the rule of law and media freedom in Greece, former Prime Minister Alfred Sant said that he is profoundly mistrustful of the approaches deployed in the European Parliament to review cases about breaches of the rule of law in European Member States. On one hand, he acknowledged that rule of law issues are central to the identity of the Union and need to remain like so. On the other hand, Sant urged the European Parliament to consider such issues clinically and objectively. “Which is far from being the case here”, he argued.

The Resolution on the rule of law and media freedom in Greece expressed deep concerns about threats to democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights. The Parliament urged the Greek government to address these issues urgently by ensuring media pluralism and impartial investigations among others. Besides, the Resolution emphasized the need for constructive dialogue between the Greek government and the European Parliament.

Labour MEP Alfred Sant emphasized that all too frequently rule of law matters are considered in a polarised manner that is equivalent to playing political football. He noted that serious problems are trivialised while trivial concerns are blown out of proportion according to which government is under review. 

“This has been a repeated experience in the case of Malta. Unless a review of rules of law cases by European Union institutions is reformed from the ground up, it will remain a flawed and unconvincing process”, he claimed.

The Resolution was adopted with 330 votes in favour, 254 votes against and 26 abstentions. Alfred Sant abstained.