President asked to urge MLP withdraw Cassola claim

Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Harry Vassallo has written to President Guido de Marco with regard to the Labour Party's application to have Arnold Cassola struck off the electoral register, asking for him to appeal to them to withdraw the application.

Prof. Cassola is the EU affairs spokesman for AD and the secretary general of the Greens.

"While it may be possible that Prof. Cassola may have been absent from Malta for more than six months in the past 18 months - thus allowing for the filing of such an objection in terms of the constitution - there can be no doubt that no legislator ever intended penalising those who are manifestly well informed as to the political situation of the country and who have a clear, concrete and personal interest to vote and stand for election.

"It is not possible to interpret the constitution any other way without attributing an undemocratic intention to the legislator of the constitution," Dr Vassallo wrote.

He argued that the provision was aimed at removing from the register those who no longer had an interest in the outcome of the election because of their absence, a category into which Prof. Cassola clearly did not fall.

"In the light of the constant political activity conducted by Prof. Cassola both while abroad and during his frequent visits to Malta, it cannot be said that he has become detached from the political situation in Malta and consequently the object to his right to vote runs directly contrary to the spirit of the constitutional provision now being used to his prejudice.

"While examining the possible judicial remedies to the injustice proposed by the MLP we request you, as the guardian of the constitution and of its democratic spirit, to invite the MLP to withdraw their said objection."

AD invited those whose voting rights are threatened to send an e-mail to alternattiva@europe.com in order that AD, with the help of the European Greens may stand up for the voting and political rights of such persons.