During a press conference today in Valletta, Alternattiva Demokratika presented its two candidates for the May 2014 European Parliament election.
Secretary General, Ralph Cassar, said:”We are proud to present the Maltese and European electorate with the possibility of voting for two experienced people who have always been consistent to their principles. Two candidates with experience in local and EU politics, and who have always kept AD’s tradition of being crystal clear in its policy positions.”
The candidates are Professor Arnold Cassola and Carmel Cacopardo.
Arnold Cassola is Professor of Maltese and Comparative Literature at the University of Malta. He has also taught at the Universities of Catania (1981-1983) and Roma “La Sapienza” (1983-1988). He co-founded Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party in 1989 and was elected Secretary General of the European Green Party in Brussels (1999-2006) and Member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies (2006-2008). He is the author of scores of academic publications and books on Maltese language, literature, culture and history as well as on green politics.
Carmel Cacopardo graduated as an architect and civil engineer at the University of Malta. He holds postgraduate qualifications in sustainability and environmental management from Staffordshire University in the United Kingdom. He is an Associate Member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment of the UK. He has worked in both the public and the private sector. Visiting Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of the Built Environment at the University of Malta. Author of the book ‘Time for Radical Change – The Introduction of Eco-Taxation in Malta’.
AD will emphasise its policies and show how it can contribute together with the European Greens in improving the quality of life of the Maltese, as well as all European citizens. In the European Parliament AD will emphasise the concept of a social Europe – working towards common high standards for workers, employees and small businesses throughout the EU; an EU of high environmental standards when it comes to biodiversity, against spring hunting, food safety, clean air and renewable energy; and an EU which works for peace, human rights and international cooperation. In a digitally connected work we will also works to protect citizens’ digital rights.
During the press conference the European Green Party’s ‘Green Primary’ to select its two leading candidates for next year’s European election was also presented. From now until January 28, anyone in the EU aged 16 or over who supports Green values can participate by accessing the site greenprimary.eu.
The Green Primary is a novel and innovative experiment in participatory European democracy. The four contenders that will run in the Green Primary are: José Bové from France, Monica Frassoni from Italy, Rebecca Harms from Germany, and Ska Keller, who was nominated by the Federation of Young European Greens.