European Greens deplore MLP application against Cassola

Two leading figures in the European Greens have deplored what they described as the lack of tolerance shown by the Malta Labour Party leadership in filing a court application "to interdict Arnold Cassola from voting and from participation in politics".

Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, the president of the Greens and head of the Green Parliamentary Group in the European Parliament, and Greens' honorary president Grazia Francescato said such behaviour was unacceptable in a democratic country.

The Labour Party claims Prof. Cassola, an Alternattiva Demokratika spokesman and the general secretary of the European Greens' Federation, is not eligible to vote because a voter has to be resident in Malta for at least six months in the 18 months before the publication of an electoral register.

In their statement, Mr Pecoraro Scanio and Ms Francescato said they would be calling on Piero Fassino, secretary of the Democratici di Sinistra, to take the case up with the European Socialist Party.

Before the Italian parliament ratifies the financial protocol granting Lm31 million to Malta, the Greens will also be asking the Italian foreign minister to clarify with the Maltese authorities why such a law - which went directly against fundamental rights and the citizens' right to vote - existed in Malta.