AD to present electoral reform proposals

Alternattiva Demokratika will soon be presenting a detailed proposal on electoral reform to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition Leader Alfred Sant.

Addressing a street party in Republic Street, Valletta, held following AD's strong showing in the European Parliament elections, chairman Harry Vassallo and AD's EP candidate Arnold Cassola said:

"Our proposal will be based on respect for strict proportionality. We welcome the fact that the general secretaries of the other two parties during a discussion on the TV programme Xarabank have accepted to start discussions on electoral reform."

They said that one could not afford to leave one in 10 voters unrepresented in the next election.

In another statement, AD welcomed the positive results it obtained in the June 12 local elections.

It said that in Swieqi, its candidate Benjy Psaila obtained 10 per cent of the first count votes and was elected. Although its Attard candidate, Ralph Cassar, obtained 10.4 per cent of the first count votes, he did not make it for a few votes. AD's candidate in Hamrun obtained two per cent of the votes cast.

AD general secretary Stephen Cachia said: "These results confirm AD's positive run in local elections and the Green Party is really satisfied with the election of Benjy Psaila in Swieqi.

"We were unfortunate not to elect a second councillor in Attard as Ralph Cassar obtained AD's best result, with over 10 per cent of the votes cast.

"AD now has a total of four councillors, the other three being in Birkirkara, Lija and Sliema.

"This is an affirmation of AD's effective presence at local level after the success achieved by Arnold Cassola on a national level in last week's European elections," he said.