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Norman Lowell (born July 29, 1946) is the founder and leader of Imperium Europa, a Maltese movement promoting an amalgamation of sociopolitical ideas, mainly, Pan-europeanism, Libertarianism, Nationalism, and Environmentalism.

Recent years

In 2002, Lowell was banned from the Maltese media following some of his extremely racist comments on public television. Despite this, Norman Lowell has gathered an ever increasing number of adherents, partly because of his charisma, eccentric sense of humour and readiness to challenge local authority, but also due to his exploitation of the increasing tensions caused on the island by seemingly unsustainable numbers of illegal immigrants.

Norman Lowell contested the first European Parliament elections that were held in Malta on June 12 2004, obtaining a highly unexpected 1,603 first-count votes and thousands of second-count votes.

Contentious issues

Lowell arrested for inciting racial hatred

maltastar.com team 27 May 2006

Extreme-right wing leader Norman Lowell was arrested on Saturday morning and arraigned in court later during the day accused of inciting racial hatred during three different public meetings.

Mr Lowell pleaded not guilty to accusations and was released on bail on a personal guarantee of Lm5000. Norman Lowell will also have to sign at the Birkirkara Police station every fortnight.

The prosecution put forward four charges: 1) That in Rabat, Malta, on 30 April 2006, used threatening and abusive language with the purpose of inciting racial hatred.

2) That in Qawra, limits of St Paul’s Bay, on 8 May 2006, used threatening, abusive or insulting language with the purpose of inciting racial hatred.

3) That between December 2003 and 27 March 2006, in an article entitled “Coming Cataclysmic Crisis”, he used threatening, abusive, insulting language with the purpose of inciting racial hatred.

4) That in Qawra, limits of St Paul’s Bay on 8 May 2006 he insulted the President of Malta.

The prosecution told the court that these accusations can lead to a period of 18 months to three years imprisonment. Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani saw that there was enough proof for the arrest and arraign of Mr Lowell, but still released him on a personal guarantee of Lm5000.

"A political trial," claims Lowell

Outside the Court building the far-right extremist claimed that this is a political trial and act against his freedom of speech. “This is suppression of the voice of the people, that is what happens to ailing tyrants who are losing power,” said Lowell.

He vowed to continue what he claims to be the fight for the people of this country.

Dr Emmy Bezzina is defending Mr Lowell.

Malta in the future

If ever in power, Norman Lowell claims that all buildings post-dating 1800 will be razed to the ground. Exceptions for historical buildings of great value will be made, post dating 1800 by a few years. Valleta, Mdina, and the Three Cities will stand within sight of each other, countryside all around. An Arcology will be built right in the center of Malta, where Mosta stands presently. No vehicles will be allowed to pollute the island; an underground railway system will be the main means of transportation.

Norman Lowell's main focus is undoubtedly the illegal immigration issue, but this often clouds other more important issues he speaks about. Norman Lowell calls for the creation of a National Unity Government, to rise above the pettiness of partisanism. He calls for a more rational, planned approach to building. It doesn't make sense, he says, to have an Industrial Estate (of all things) built facing on one of Malta's most picturesque areas. He also derides the government's inability to tackle the serious cultural and educational problems Malta's society is facing, whilst chasing after economic ghosts.

Other priorities

• A dynamic foreign policy
• A National Unity Government drawn from the best of the Army, Police, civil service, university, world of industry and commerce.
• 10% flat rate VAT and abolition of income tax.
• Energy Island off Maghtab. Solar energy, wind and waves.
• Turning Malta into the Spiritual focal point of Europe.
• Niche farming of exotic fruits and herbs.
• A total reorientation of present, mercantile values.

Trivia

• Norman Lowell is an artist in his own abstract style, Dionysian Action Painting.
• Is also an author and a qualified banker.
• A martial-arts expert, he is the founder of Ch'uan Shu in Malta.
• Generally refers to Malta as "The sacred island of Melita".
• Is a Holocaust Revisionist.
• Salutes his supporters with "Ave", Latin for "Hail".
• Resides in Attard, Malta.
• Usually carries a walking stick which has a sword inside.
• In 2003, he wrote a letter to Dr. Fenech Adami, then Prime Minister of Malta, predicting that the referendum determining Malta's entry in the European Union was going to be lost.
• Impetuously predicted (in 2000) that the country was bankrupt
• He is famous for concluding statements with the words: "Qed tifhem?" ("Get it?")
• The Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Green Party recently "Declared War" on Norman Lowell.
• Refers to the Malta drydocks as "tal-patchwik" - stating that the English Navy built them as a first-stop repair center for their ships, and not as fully fledged dockyards.

Quotes

• "Our Prime Minister's vision is to build two golf courses. Of all things, he wants golf courses! Can you be more pathetic than that?"

• "This is not a warning to the Prime Minister, this is a statement of fact. If Dr. Gonzi dares to alter the Opera House into a Parliament, it will be the last miserable act of his miserable government!"

• "I can do 2 years standing on my head!" (when asked about the possibility of being sent to two years in prison for inciting racial hatred)

• "In our vision of Imperium Europa, people will work less, till we come to ten hours a week. With today's technology we don't need to work more than ten hours a week"

• "The enemy is not only at the gates. The enemy is manning the gates!"

• "America, Britain, France! They are not land powers, they are sea powers! In fact, whenever the Americans attack on land, they get their ass kicked!"

• "What we need is a unifying idea! An idea so strong, that it will draw like a magnet all the forces!"

• "We are not the collectivist sheep of the left. We are: The Radical Racialist Right Revolutionary Reactionaries!"

• "E una battaglia di cultura prima di tutto!" ("It is a cultural battle more than anything else")

• "Ja mnejjek min sorm ommok!"

External links

• Imperium Europa — Official Website of Imperium Europa.
• Vivamalta.org — Maltese nationalist/patriotic site affiliated with Norman Lowell's Imperium Europa.
• Maltafly — Maltese politico-satirical site with various Norman Lowell interviews available for download.
• Credo — "Credo, a book for the very few" written by Norman Lowell.
• Fenech, Gerald (Jul. 03, 2005). Norman Lowell in court on inciting racism. The Malta Independent.

• 1946 births
• Living people
• Maltese politicians
• Libertarians