AD handicapped by lack of own media

The Green Party's chairman Harry Vassallo said that the presence of Alternattiva Demokratika in the European Parliament, through its candidate Arnold Cassola, will be instrumental in ensuring Malta's voice is heard.

He said that AD was fielding just one candidate for the June 12 election for the European Parliament because it believed that with 13 years' experience in the European field Professor Cassola could really push Malta's interests.

Dr Vassallo said Professor Cassola, who at present holds the post of general secretary of the European Greens, has already worked hard for the island and gave his advice to anybody who needed it, without prejudice, during the negotiations for Malta's entry in the EU.

Professor Cassola, AD and the Greens in the European Parliament had also played a vital role in creating awareness in the European Parliament about Malta's need to have six seats.

On this matter, Professor Cassola said Malta was now in a defensive situation to maintain its five seats after the Inter-Governmental Conference proposed they should be reduced to four.

Returning to the issue of the European Parliament elections, Dr Vassallo said AD was aware that it was not a level playing field since both the Nationalist and Labour parties owned their own media.

"However, we have never been disheartened and we are certainly not going to give up now," he said.

Professor Cassola's election would mean that Malta would have a voice that could influence the 50 Green MEPs, a political family which is a determining factor in the European Parliament since the Socialists and Christian Democrats usually vote against each other.

He has already been instrumental in putting Parliamentary questions about Malta through the Green Group in the European Parliament, on its use of the Maltese language in European institutions, the need to curb hunting in Spring and the possibility of Gozo getting special funds, among others.

"This year is a very important one in our country's long history. For the first time the public has the chance to vote for a candidate who they truly believe will further their interests, without the fear of not giving the vote to one of the two major parties," Professor Cassola said.