Watch: Alex Agius Saliba Reiterates Position Against Abortion
MEP Alex Agius Saliba once again clarified that he is not in favour of the European Union imposing abortion in Malta.
In a 12-minute video posted to social media, Agius Saliba assured that he remains against the imposition of abortion in Malta. He noted that his stance has remained consistent, even to the detriment of his position as Vice President of the Socialists and Democrats group in the EP.
This comes days after all PL MEPs voted in favour of a European Parliament resolution on the Rule of Law, which contained one clause (55) calling for abortion to become a human right. PN MEPs voted against the report due to clause 55.
The resolution on the Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law report included a vast number of different proposals, the most contentious one being the need to enshrine abortion in the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights.
For this to happen in practice, both the European Parliament and the European Council – made up of all member states – would have to agree.
All PL MEPs, including Agius Saliba, Daniel Attard and Thomas Bajada voted in favour of this resolution. While all Nationalist MEPs, i.e. David Casa and Peter Agius voted against it. As EP President, Roberta Metsola does not have a vote.
MEPs voted in two stages – on the separate clauses of the report and then on the report as a whole. The initial voting was done by raising hands and this was unrecorded, however, the Labour delegation is arguing that it voted against clause 55.
Following the vote, the PL issued a statement noting double standards in what the PN says in Malta and does in the European fora. It argued that PN MEPs sided with the far-right by voting against this report, the majority of which deals with civil liberties, the rule of law and democracy.
The PN hit back by pointing out the abortion clause of the resolution, saying it goes against Labour’s official stance. The Opposition Party further argued that abortion is a national competence and should not be imposed by external powers.
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