
At a press conference held in Valletta AD-The Green Party stated that in view of the latest poltical developments an immediate general election is called for. AD guarantees that Members of Parliament elected on its behalf will act in a responsible manner.
Carmel Cacopardo AD’s Deputy Chairperson said that the happenings of the past few hours confirm once more that a Parliament based on two political parties is indeed unstable. The resignation of Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando from his PN membership coupled with the declarations from Franco Debono that he will not support Government until such time that Austin Gatt remains a Minister signifies that the last days of this Government will remain characterised with pique and unnecessary conflict. This sends forth a message of instability which in the midst of an economic crisis which Malta is facing will certainly not be helpful in creating work or in attracting investment.
Ralph Cassar, AD Secretary General, speaking about the current political situation said:”What is going on shows that the Prime Minister has lost control. The Nationalist Party’s strategies based on misleading the public on issues such as the ‘Mistra’ scandal, its attempt of portraying itself as the party of hunters and the party of environmentalists, the party of religious zealots and that of a more liberal attitude, the party of big business and at the same time the party defending residents has backfired and failed badly. Their attempt at being everything to everyone is also being copied by the Labour Party. Like the Nationalists they are the party of speculators, strong lobbies and dirty energy.”
“The fact that the other two parties are wasting everybody’s time bickering about petty issues and avoiding discussing real policy issues shows that in fact they are one and the same – both are part of a system that wants to keep the status quo. The only way to send them a loud and clear message and that we don’t want to be part of their silly games is to vote Green.”
Prof. Arnold Cassola said: “With elections coming up in the near future, it is important that all Maltese citizens are facilitated in their right to vote. With regards to Maltese citizens living abroad, arrangements should be immediately undertaken to set up facilities for them to vote at nearest embassy or consulate. In this day and age, where mobility has become an important feature of the European and Maltese citizen’s lifestyle, it is scandalous that Maltese citizens are still being taken to court by political parties to be disenfranchised of their vote. The Partit Laburista and any other political party trying to disenfranchise these voters are going against the recommendation of the Constitutional court. Indeed, this issue should have been settled years ago, in March 2003,in the Cassola constitutional case, where the Presiding Judge defined residence “not necessarily as physical presence in the country but as habitual presence”.
Carmel Cacopardo AD’s Deputy Chairperson concluded by stating that as a responsible political party AD in parliament will act in a responsible manner, being loyal to the govertnment’s programme agreed to. AD in Parliament will be guided by the national interests and will ensure that its eventual MPs do not act out of spite or pique. Members of Parliament elected on behalf of AD will put forward positive proposals, they will shun individualism and strive to continuously form part of a team. AD considers that the current political situation necessitates an immediate general election which is required in the national interest.

Waqt konferenza stampa gewwa l-Belt, Alternattiva Demokratika qalet li fid-dawl ta’ l-ahhar zviluppi politici ghandha tissejjah l-elezzjoni generali immedjatament. AD twieghed li Membri Parlamentari eletti f’isimha jagixxu b’mod responsabbli.
Carmel Cacopardo, Deputat Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika qal li dak li gara f’dawn l-ahhar sieghat qed ikompli jikkonferma kemm is-sistema ta’ zewg partiti fil-Parlament hi wahda instabbli. Bir-rizenja ta’ Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando mill-PN kif ukoll bid-dikjarazzjonijiet ta’ Franco Debono li ma jaghtix appogg lil Gvern li jkollu lil Austin Gatt bhala Ministru jfisser illi l-ftit hajja li ghad baqaghlu dan il-Gvern ser jibqghu karatterizzati minn piki zejda u bla bzonn. Dan jaghti messagg ta’ instabilita li fil-krizi ekonomika li qed niffaccjaw ma jaghmilx gid lill-holqien tal-postijiet tax-xoghol u lill-investiment li ser ikompli jitnaffar.
Ralph Cassar, is-Segretarju Generali ta’ AD, li tkellem dwar is-sitwazzjoni politika kurrenti, qal: Dak li qed jigri bhalissa juri li l-Prim Ministru tilef il-kontroll. L-istrategija tal-Partit Nazzjonalista li kienet wahda li tqarraq bin-nies fuq kwistjonijiet bhall-iskandlu tal-Mistra, l-attentati tal-partit li jiprogetta lilu nnifsu bhala l-partit tal-kaccaturi u l-partit tal-ambjentalisti, il-partit tar-religjuzi ferventi u dak ta’ nies aktar liberali, il-partit tal-imprendituri kbar u fl-istess hin li jiddefendi r-residenti, hija strategija li mhux biss falliet imma wkoll li halliet konsegenzi negattivi fuq il-partit stess. Din l-istrategija li jippruvaw jintoghgbu ma kulhadd qed tigi wkoll ikkuppjata mill-Partit Laburista. Bhan-Nazzjonalisti il-PL huwa partit tal-ispekulaturi, ta’ lobbies b’sahhithom u tal-energija mahmuga”.
“Il-fatt li z-zewg partiti l-ohra qed jahlu l-hin ta’ kulhadd bil-battibekki fuq il-hmerijiet minflok jiddiskutu politika serja, juri li fil-verita’ m’hemmx wisq differenza bejniethom – it-tnejn huma parti minn sistema li jinteressaha biss li ma jinbidel xejn. L-uniku mod li nwasslulhom messagg car li ma rridux inkunu parti minn dan il-loghob bla sens huwa li tivvota AD”.
Il- Prof. Arnold Cassola qal: “Bl-elezzjonijiet generali fuq l-ghatba taghna, huwa importanti li c-cittadini Maltin kollha jinghataw il-facilitajiet mehtiega sabiex jezercitaw id-dritt tal-vot. Ghal dak li ghandu x’jaqsam mal-Maltin li jghixu barra ghandhom isiru arrangamenti immedjati biex huma jkunu jistghu jivvutaw fl-aktar ambaxxata jew konsolat vicin. Fid-dinja tal-lum, meta l-mobilita’ saret element importanti fl-istil ta’ hajja tac-cittadin Malti, huwa skandaluz li cittadini Maltin qeghdin jittellghu l-qorti mill-partiti politici biex jittihdilhom il-vot. Il-Partit Laburista u kulmin qed jipprova jcahhad lil dawn il-Maltin mill-vot qed imur kontra r-rakkomandazzjonijiet tal-Qorti Kostituzzjonali. Infatti, dan is-suggett gie ezawrit snin ilu, f’Marzu tal-2003, fil-kaz kostituzzjonali maghmul minni, meta l-Imhallef kien iddefinixxa r-residenza bhala “Mhux necessarjament prezenza fizika izda prezenza abitwali”.
Carmel Cacopardo Deputat Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika ikkonkluda billi qal li bhala parti serju u responsabbli Alternattiva Demokratika fil-Parlament tagixxi b’mod responsabbli b’lealta’ lejn ftehim programmatiku ta’ gvern li jkun miftiehem. AD fil-Parlament thares l-ewwel u qabel kollox l-interessi tal-poplu Malti u tassigura li Membri Parlamentari eletti f’isimnha jwarrbu l-pika. Il-Membri Parlamentari eletti f’isem Alternattiva Demokratika ifittxu li jressqu quddiem il-Parlament proposti pozittivi, jwarrbu l-primadonnizmu u jagixxu bhala parti minn team. Fid-dawl tal-qaghda politika kif zviluppat AD hi tal-fehma li hu fl-interess tal-pajjiz li tissejjah elezzjoni generali immedjatament.