PN & PL talk. Volt acts.

PN & PL talk. Volt acts.

09 Oct 2020, 16:00:00 UTC
Volt Malta reacts to PN and PL responses to corruption locally and abroad in light of the European Parliament resolution on rule of law of Bulgaria

>When it comes to deterioration of rule of law and corruption, the Labour Party addresses it abroad but not locally, and the Nationalist Party addresses it locally but not abroad.
>Volt’s members attended both the protests in Malta, and the protests in Bulgaria.

For the past months, Bulgarians have been protesting against corruption in the government and continuous deterioration of rule of law. Yesterday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution criticising Bulgaria on issues of rule of law. 

Meanwhile the political family that the Nationalist Party forms part of, the European People’s Party, voted against this resolution. In fact, the Nationalist Party MEPs were involved in trying to water down the resolution through amendments (which did not pass). Worth noting that the government in power in Bulgaria forms part of the same political family as the Nationalist Party. This is saddening considering the dedication of the same MEPs from the Nationalist party in fighting against the deterioration of rule of law in Malta, and against corruption.

On the other side we have the Labour Party MEPs, which forms part of the Party of European Socialists family, who voted in favour of this resolution on Bulgaria, and have attacked the Nationalist Party for their double standards. This is understandable however ironic, as the Labour Party itself failed to address the deterioration of rule of law in Malta, and corruption. When Malta was the subject of a similar resolution that passed at the end of 2019, PN MEPs voted in favour of criticising Malta, whilst Labour MEPs voted against (with 1 abstention).

Two weights two measures indeed. When it comes to deterioration of rule of law and corruption, the Labour Party addresses it abroad but not locally, and the Nationalist Party addresses it locally but not abroad.

Then, there’s Volt, the European Political Party that is present across the European Union with a common goal, name, and membership. Our members attended both the protests in Malta, and the protests in Bulgaria. Our members in Bulgaria have been protesting for over 90 days now. The Chairperson of Volt Bulgaria himself ,Nastimir Ananiev was among the protestors forcibly removed from a government building, and sustained some injuries, after delivering a formal letter calling for the resignation of Bulgaria Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.

YouTube: Volt activists forcibly removed from Bulgarian parliament building

It is hard to take parties seriously which are inconsistent with their words and action when it comes to corruption. We need a new way of doing politics. We need pragmatic, progressive politics, with a genuine European approach to address corruption in Malta, Bulgaria and elsewhere in our Union. Volt is ready to present solutions for the betterment of the lives of citizens, for justice, and to safeguard the rule of law.