Watch: Isabelle Bonnici – ‘I Thought At Least One PL MP Would Have The Guts To Stand Up’
Isabelle Bonnici has expressed her disappointment at how every single Labour MP voted against a public inquiry into her son’s death last year.
Interviewed by Jon Mallia on Il-Podcast ta’ Jon, Bonnici said she called up MPs a day before the crucial vote to assess the situation.
“Some of them told me that I was right but that they are going to vote as a team,” she recounted. “Some told me they’ll think about it. Some of them simply told me that they will vote according to the Prime Minister’s advice.”
“To be honest, I thought someone would have the guts to vote in favour of the inquiry to stand up for what they believe in.”
View this post on Instagram
Without mentioning any names, Bonnici said she had trusted a number of PL politicians, including a particular female minister, but that she was left bitterly disappointed.
The vote was marred by scenes of Sofia’s aggrieved family screaming at PL MPs from the Strangers’ Gallery, and four days afterwards, Robert Abela performed a stunning U-turn and announced that a public inquiry would in fact be held.
Bonnici said she was impressed by the casual nature of proceedings, with several MPs on their phones or strolling in and out of the Chamber.
She said that when Opposition Leader Bernard Grech pointed out how many signatures her public inquiry petition received, a particular Labour MP instinctively started banging the desk in support.
However, after realising her mistake, she tried to as though she was merely dusting the table.
“We caught her and told her so,” Bonnici said. “She wanted to celebrate the petition but she had to obey. You have to discard your values for the sake of your parliamentary seat.”
You can watch Jon Mallia’s full interview with Isabelle Bonnici below.
Do you think MPs should vote with their conscience more often?
READ NEXT: Joseph Muscat’s Proposal For Radical Change In Malta Premier League Approved By Clubs
