Josie Muscat: ‘everyone’s got a hard-on for immigration now’
David Darmanin
Azzjoni Nazzjonali (AN) yesterday expressed its irritation at both the PN and the PL for taking on the immigration issue in the run up to EP elections “without passing on a clear message”.
Addressing the press at Fra Diegu Square, Hamrun, yesterday morning, AN leader and MEP candidate Josie Muscat said “everybody seems to have suddenly have got a hard-on for immigration (kulhadd qamlu ghall-immigrazzjoni issa).”
Asked by MaltaToday whether he felt robbed of his arguments on the issue and how this will affect AN’s votes, Muscat said: “The big parties have in no way taken our arguments. They unsuccessfully tried robbing us of the issue but did so unsuccessfully. We have been consistent in our arguments over illegal immigration since the foundation of the party two years ago.”
Prior to the general elections last year, AN had published a 10-point policy outlining their platform on immigration.
“We still stand by those very points featured in that policy until this day,” he said. “We have a clear-cut message – and that is for immigrants not to come here because Malta is too small and we do not have enough resources to sustain them.”
Muscat reinforced his party’s stand against multiculturalism. “Our villages are turning into Babylons, as people come to Malta illegally either by boat or because they overstay their visa. Our position is that anyone who is here illegally must be detained until that person decides to leave. Our message is crystal clear and consistent, unlike that of other political parties.”
Muscat criticised Laboru leader Joseph Muscat for never speaking out on the immigration issue throughout his term as MEP. “He decided to take on the issue now because he found an opportune moment and is profiting out of people’s feelings.”
“The PL now published 20 points to explain their stance on immigration, but in these points, there is simply no message for immigrants not to come here. In fact, the PL is proposing the setting up of more detention centres – which to me looks like an open invitation for more immigrants to come. The PL is also saying that they want to educate immigrants – when it is clear that these people never learn,” he charged.
“When they gave them computers they burnt them the day after,” Muscat claimed.
Turning his guns to the PN, Muscat poured cold water over the employment of diplomacy. “They went to Barrot for a solution, but got nothing out of it – because voluntary returns simply do not work. They are now saying that €5,000 will be given to every person transferred from one country to another. What is this? Are we selling people now? Is this not slavery?”
Alleging European Commissioner Jacques Barrot was trying to get political leverage out of the PN, Muscat said: “Barroso wants to remain commissioner, and it is obvious he needs votes from the PN. Neither the PN nor the PL is mentioning this in their TV debates. Both parties are insulting the Maltese people on the immigration issue, and there is no genuine effort on their part.”
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