Alternattiva exhilarated at 'renewed' support

The fact that none of the two major political parties obtained over 50 per cent of the vote in the European elections was deemed a "success" by Alternattiva Demokratika.

"It's a great result for Arnold Cassola. And it's also a sobering outcome for all politicians who should go home and think deeply on the meaning of this result," AD chairman Harry Vassallo told The Times.

Dr Vassallo walked into the Ta' Qali counting hall with mixed feelings - happy at the fact that his Green Party had chalked up almost 10 per cent of the electorate's first preference votes, but upset at the feeling that his candidate might still not make it among the five MEPs.

The support for Alternattiva Demokratika had sky-rocketed making it the envy of any political party, Dr Vassallo said.

Asked what he made out of the fact that several Nationalists had voted for AD, Dr Vassallo was categorical in his reply: "It could also mean that those that could never vote for us actually came back to us."

Prof. Cassola had plenty to beam about when the vote-counting process at Ta' Qali started. But he later admitted it would not be easy as it appeared that the fifth seat could after all go to a Labour candidate.

Prof. Cassola, who is also the European Greens' general secretary, was not surprised at his performance, saying it was evident from the campaign that AD would garner a good result.

He disagreed that he had only benefited from the Nationalist share of votes, saying he had seen some voting documents in the south that gave him first preference and then a second preference to a Labour candidate.

"Bear in mind that last year there were thousands of Labour supporters who voted Nationalist because of the EU. But, after all, this is a political game and we are there to take votes from others as well," he smiled.

He said it was a pity that certain Nationalist Party officials had instructed their supporters to refrain from giving the second preference to AD. "It was not only risky, but irresponsible."

It was, after all, the first election since independence where there was no government at stake. Ultimately, it was a very positive development that the Maltese were finally shifting their vote, Prof. Cassola remarked.