Candidates are fighting hard for island's five seats

Country profile: MaltaThree Maltese political parties, the ruling Nationalists, the Labour party and the Green Alternativa Democratica, have fielded candidates for the five seats allocated to the island in the European Parliament.

Ten independents, including one from the newly-formed Alpha party, will also contest the election against eight Nationalists, eight Labourites, and one Green. The three main parties are closely connected with their European counterparts, the conservative Popular parties, the Socialists and the Greens, respectively.

During the hard-fought campaign, the prime minister, Mr Lawrence Gonzi, said that MEPs must promote job creation, education, management of the environment and attract funding for the island's severe waste problem. Malta's 9 per cent unemployment is one of the highest in the EU.

The Labour leader, Dr Alfred Sant, who has to overcome Labour's traditional opposition to EU membership and promote a pro-EU line, urged voters to participate in the poll and choose MEPs from his party in order to capitalise on the benefits offered by EU entry. He warned that prices of staple foods could be expected to soar but said that he would insist on price monitoring to counter the country's already rising prices and high inflation rate.

Dr Sant also said Malta's MEPs could appeal to the European Parliament for help for the island's tourism sector, which is in a dire situation. The manifesto of the Alternativa Democratica, which backs EU accession, focused on environmental protection, unemployment and the free flow of information.

The Alpha party accused the Catholic Church in Malta of interfering in politics by calling for people to vote for candidates who foster Christian values and stand against the legalisation of abortion and divorce. The party claimed the Church supports the Nationalists and called for the election to be suspended.

When Malta goes to the polls on June 12th, only 64 per cent of voters are predicted to cast their ballots for MEPs and local councils. This figure is significantly lower than the 91 per cent turnout for the EU referendum in 2003, the normal 94-96 per cent in general elections, and 90 per cent for local elections.