[Marxism] MALTA - REFERENDUM FOR EU TREATY SHOULD BE HELD - ZMINIJIETNA

[Michael Briguglio]

Zminijietna - Voice of the Left
14/8 Vincenti Buildings, Strait Street, Valletta VLT1432
zminijietna at yahoo.com
www.zminijietna.org

Press Release  - Stqarrija Stampa
VERZJONIJIET BIL-MALTI U BL-INGLIZ

REFERENDUM FOR EU TREATY SHOULD BE HELD - ZMINIJIETNA

Zminijietna - Voice of the Left joined the various political forces across 
the European Union in a call for a referendum on the EU Treaty. Zminijietna 
said that irrispective of one's position on the treaty, it requires 
democratic approval if it is to be politically legitimate. At the same time, 
Zminijietna criticised the treaty for its neo-liberal positions which will 
result in further inequality.

Zminijietna said

"The EU, various European Governments and certain political parties are 
seeking to avoid a democratic debate on the EU Treaty. This is taking place 
in Malta too, where apparently the only issue that seems to be given 
importance by institutionalised forces is Malta's additional parliamentary 
seat. The attempt to stifle debate is unacceptable and is a profound 
disrespect for democracy and for the sovereign will, expressed by the French 
and Dutch peoples, in the 2005 referendums. The right of each people to have 
their say on a treaty which has such profound consequences for the present 
and the future of each of their countries and of Europe must be guaranteed, 
through a broad and democratic debate and through the expression of the 
popular will".

On the Treaty itself, Zminijietna said

'The treaty includes various neo-liberal polices that will further 
jeopardise economic and social gains of the workers and the peoples, whether 
through the liberalisation of markets, the primacy of competition or the 
monetarist policies that do not take into account growth and employment; or 
by dismantling and privatising public services'.

'The treaty also demands the "progressive suppression of all restrictions on 
international trade and foreign direct investment". It reaffirms that the 
unaccountable European Central Bank has the sole duty of combating inflation 
- unlike, for example, even the US Federal Reserve Board, which also has to 
maintain full employment. Besides, the reform treaty gives the unelected 
European Commission the power to force through the privatisation of public 
services' .

'The proposed treaty institutionalises neo-liberalism in various areas and 
also promotes further militarisation. To the contrary, alongside various 
left-wing political parties and NGOs across Europe, Zminijietna - Voice of 
the Left has confidence in the possibility of a different Europe - a Social 
Europe of cooperation,  social, economic and environmental progress and 
peace".

In the meantime, Zminijietna's youth wing 'Zminjietna Left Youth' joined the 
European pro-referendum campaign of Democracy International.

Michael Briguglio
Public Relations Officer
Zminijietna - Voice of the Left
Mob 9989 4634

ZMINIJIETNA FAVUR REFERENDUM DWAR IT-TRATTAT TA' L-UE

Zminijietna - Lehen ix-Xellug inghaqdet mal-forzi politici fl-Unjoni Ewropea 
li qed isejhu ghal referendum dwar it-trattat ta' l-UE. Zminijietna qalet li 
irrispettivament mill-pozizzjoni li wiehed ikollu dwar it-trattat, l-istess 
trattat jehtieg approvazzjoni demokratika jekk ghandu jkun politikament 
legittimu. Fl-istess hin, Zminijietna ikkritikat it-trattat minhabba li 
ghandu bosta pozizzjonijiet neo-liberali li jwasslu ghal iktar inugwaljanza.

Zminijietna qalet

"L-UE, Gvernijiet varji fl-Ewropa u xi partiti politici qed jipprovaw 
iwaqqfu dibattitu demokratiku  dwar it-trattat ta' l-UE. Dan qed isir 
f'Malta wkoll, fejn apparantament l-uniku suggett li qed jibghata mportanza 
mill-forzi istituzzjonalizzati hu s-siggu zejjed li Malta ser ikollha 
fil-Parlament Ewropew. L-attentat li jitwaqqaf id-dibattitu hu inacettabli u 
juri disrispett kbir ghad-demokrazija u ghall-verdett Sovran, espress 
mill-popli Francizi u Olandizi, fir-referenda tal-2005. Id-dritt li kull 
poplu jsemma lehnu dwar trattat li ser ikollu konsegwenzi daqshekk profondi 
ghall-prezent u ghall-futur ta' kull pajjiz u ta' l-Ewropa ghandu jigi 
garantit, permezz ta' dibattitu demokratiku wiesgha u permezz tal-verdett 
tal-poplu".

Dwar it-trattat innifsu, Zminijietna qalet

'It-trattat jinklui politika neo-liberali li ser inaqqsu hafna gwadanji li 
ghamlu l-haddiema u l-popli, permezz ta' iktar liberalizazzjoni; permezz ta' 
politika li monetarja li tpoggi l-kompetizzjoni qabel kollox ghad-detriment 
tat-tkabbir u l-holqien tax-xoghol; u permezz ta' l-izmantellar u 
l-privatizazzjoni ta' servizzi pubblici".

'It-trattat jishaq ukoll li ghandu jkun hemm "suppressjoni progressive ta' 
kull restrizzjoni ghall-kummerc internazzjoni u ghall-investiment barrani 
dirett". Jafferma li l-Bank Centrali Ewropw ghandu d-dmir wahdieni li 
jrazzan l-inflazzjoni. L-anqas il- Federal Reserve Board ta' l-iStati Uniti 
ta' l-Amerika ma jmur daqshekk fl-estrem, ghax wiehed mill-ghanijiet tieghu 
hu li jkun hemm xoghol ghal kulhadd. Barra minn hekk, it-Tratta jaghti sahha 
lill-Kummissjoni Ewropeja - li m'hijiex eletta - li ggieghel 
il-privatizazzjoni ta' servizzi pubblici".

'It-trattat kif inhu proposi jistituzjonalizza in-neo-liberalizmu f'oqsma 
varju u jippromwovi iktar militarizmi. Ghall-kuntrarju, flimkien ma' bosta 
partiti u ghaqdiet non-governattivi tax-xellug, Zminijietna - Lehen 
ix-Xellug hi kunfidenti li jista' jkun hemm Ewropa ohra - Ewropa Socjali ta' 
kooperazzjoni, progress socjali, ekonomiku u ambjentali, u paci".

Sa dan it-tant, il-fergha taz-zghazagh ta' Zminijietna - 'Zminijetna 
Zghazagh tax-Xellug', issiehbet mal-kampajna favur referendum dwar 
it-trattat ta' Democracy International.

Michael Briguglio
Ufficjal Relazzjonijiet Pubblici
Zminijietna - Lehen ix-Xellug
Mob 9989 4634