The EP report on Malta is a ‘total manipulation

The report of the European Parliament on Malta is a total manipulation, MEP and former Prime Minister Alfred Sant said during a debate on the freedom of expression at ‘Europa House’ in Valletta. This report was written at the same time that Hungary and Poland were being accused of breaching the rule of laws in their resprective countries.

Dr Sant said problems related to corruption in Malta should be discussed in a European context.

“Not only politicians are involved in problems of governance and corruption. One must understand the realities of socio-economic factors and commercial interests that dominate our lives. We must avoid to be insular on this reality. This is not only Malta’s problem, it is Europe’s problem.”
Dr Sant referred to the Volkswagen car emission scandal when the German company had to retract 482,000 cars from the US to Europe after it was caught deploying sophisticated software to cheat emission tests and let its cars produce up to 40 times more pollution than allowed.
“This scandal was not exposed in Europe but in the US for competition reasons.” remarked Alfred Sant.

Dr Sant condemned the barbaric murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia and said the reason behind this murder has still to be ascertained.

“I don’t agree with those protesting with public monuments, including Castille, but these have every right to do so. The same applies to those criticising them. These have every right to do so.” said the Maltese MEP.

Maltese Version – IR-RAPPORT TAL-PARLAMENT EWROPEW DWAR MALTA HUWA ‘MANIPULAZZJONI TOTALI’

Alfred Sant iddeskriva r-rapport tad-Delegazzjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew dwar Malta bħala ‘manipulazzjoni totali’. Dr Sant qal dan waqt dibattitu dwar il-liberta` tal-espressjoni fil-Belt Valletta. Dan ir-rapport kontra Malta sar fl-istess żmien li l-Ungerija u l-Polonja kienu qed jiġu akkużati bi ksur tas-Saltna tad-dritt f’pajjiżhom.

Dr Sant qal li l-problemi ta’ korruzzjoni f’pajjiżna għandhom jiġu diskussi f’kuntest Ewropew.

“Mhumiex biss il-politiċi involuti fi kwistjonijiet ta’ governanza. Wieħed irid jifhem ir-realtajiet tal-fatturi soċjo-ekonomiċi u l-interessi kummerċjali b’saħħithom li jiddominaw ħajjitna. Ma nistgħux inkunu insulari dwar din ir-realta`. Din hija problema li tinsab fl-Ewropa u mhux problema ta’ Malta biss.”
Dr Sant semma l-iskandlu tal-kumpannija Germaniża Volkswagen b’karozzi li jaħbu l-emissjonijiet tad-diesel.

Il-Volkswagen kellha tibgħat lura 482,000 karozza mill-Istati Uniti lejn l-Ewropa wara li inqabdet tqarraq fil-ħruġ ta’ emissjonijiet b’40 darba aktar milli permess.

“Dan l-iskandlu ma nkixifx fl-Ewropa, iżda mill-Istati Uniti minħabba raġunijiet ta’ kompetizzjoni.”

Alfred Sant ikkundanna l-qtil ta’ Daphne Caruana Galizia, iżda qal li għad trid tiġi stabbilita r-raġuni għal dan l-att barbaru.

“Ma naqbel xejn mal-azzjonijiet ta’ dawk li qed jagħmlu l-protesti pubbliċi ma’ Kastilja u postijiet oħra, imma għandom kull dritt jagħmlu hekk, kif għandhom kull dritt jikkritikawhom dawk li qed jagħmlu hekk”, irrimarka l-MEP.