They’re blaming the European People’s Party, but they don’t even have the support of the Socialists

The government’s internet trolls are out in force, led by the Prime Minister’s aide-latched-on-to-the-public-teat, Glenn Bedingfield, blaming the Maltese Opposition and the European People’s Party – the political grouping in the European Parliament to which the Nationalist MEPs belong – for the manner in which their nominee Leo Brincat was resoundingly rejected.

But Brincat does not even have the support of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, to which the Maltese Labour MEPs belong. The fact that the gap between the votes against him and those for him is so large is evidence of that. The numbers wouldn’t work out otherwise.

The Portuguese Socialist MEP who is deputy head of the European Parliament’s Panama Papers inquiry committee, Ana Gomes, has spoken angrily and disapprovingly to various newspapers in Malta and elsewhere about our government’s questionable choices. Now, after Leo Brincat tweeted that he would ignore the European Parliament’s vote and press his suit with the European Council, Ms Gomes has said:

“Ignoring the vote by MEPs — it was not by one or two votes — does indeed spell trouble because, of course, this would create an even more adverse opinion about the Maltese government.”

Ana Gomes, deputy head of the European Parliament’s Panama Papers inquiry committee