Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party said that if the OPM Directive restrictions on public sector employees are not removed, it will not be contesting the local council elections.

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said: “It is absurd that the Office of the Prime Minister is penalizing local candidates by asking them to take special unpaid leave or leave for offering to give a voluntary service to their locality. This is obviously detrimental to all candidates who work in the public service, and especially to those who are coming from small parties or who are independent candidates. We have no doubt that this is the true reason why this new directive was introduced less than a year ago and with restricted circulation. In fact we realised in the past few days that very few were aware of its existence”.

“In such a context of bad faith and manouvres to restrict participation of citizens in Malta’s democratic process, AD – The Green Party will be withdrawing its 10 candidates from the forthcoming local council elections, unless the directive is revised so as not to punish public service employees who choose to give a service to their locality”.

“AD will keep this in mind in forthcoming strategies for the general election”.