AD seeks Euro parliament foothold

Alternattiva Demokratika has officially launched its electoral campaign for next June's European parliament election.

The theme of the campaign will be: Cassola for MEP, referring to the party's sole contender, Arnold Cassola.

"Through the election of a Maltese Green MEP, rather than having a voice in just two European political families, the Maltese and Gozitans will gain representation in three major European political families," Prof. Cassola said yesterday.

"This is not a petty partisan contest to measure the electoral strength of the three Maltese parties but an intelligent vote to ensure the best representation for Malta and Gozo. There should be only winners and no losers in this contest."

Prof. Cassola also dwelt on the advantages of a green vote for the Maltese and Gozitans.

The Greens have helped Maltese and Gozitan local councils and communities, fishermen, farmers and other individuals whose rights or quality of life were threatened.

They also recently raised the Mnajdra landfill issue at the highest European levels. AD has also worked so that Malta would benefit from EU funding after the recent floods.

Greens have always favoured economic policies, which create more employment in new sectors like alternative energy, waste management, ecotourism, information technology and rural development. The Greens, who opposed the war in Iraq, have always advocated a policy of peace and justice in the world which is in line with Malta's neutrality and foreign policy aspirations, he said.

General secretary Stephen Cachia said AD would be participating in a European wide campaign involving 20 different Green parties. He also announced that next February a Green European Party would be launched.

AD's chairman Harry Vassallo highlighted the fact that in the forthcoming elections the Maltese will be free to vote for whoever they like without having any fears about who will be elected in government.

"In these elections we invite the electorate to recognise the experience, maturity and intelligent contribution of Prof. Cassola. Arnold Cassola has a valuable experience of the workings of the European parliament through his four-year tenure of the post of secretary general of the European Greens, a post at the heart of a transnational political family never held before by any Maltese politician."