Arnold Cassola (picture), Alternattiva Demokratika's spokesman on EU Affairs, has been chosen by the Italian Verdi and Romano Prodi's Unione Centre-Green-Left coalition as one of the 12 Unione candidates for the European constituency at the next elections in Italy scheduled for April 9.

The European constituency, which comprises around two million voters and is made up of all the countries in Europe, apart from Italy, will be electing six members to the Italian Parliament.

Arnold Cassola is the only Green candidate on the Unione list, which consists of, among others, candidates from Democratici di Sinistra, La Margherita, the Di Pietro list, the Republicans and the Greens.

Italian Verdi president Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, said: "Arnold Cassola's 16-year experience in European politics is an invaluable experience which the Centre-Green-Left coalition will definitely benefit from. His consistency and credibility in Green European politics makes him the ideal candidate for the Unione European list."

He added: "Prof. Cassola has been acknowledged by the 33 national Green parties in Europe as one of their foremost European Green leaders for the past nine years.

It is therefore natural for us Verdi to consider him as our candidate for Prodi's European list at the next Italian elections."

Harry Vassallo, Alternattiva Demokratika's chairman, said: "Prof. Cassola's selection as a candidate in Prodi's and Pecoraro Scanio's election team makes us all at AD really proud. This is a clear acknowledgement of the fact that we at Alternattiva Demokratika are highly respected at an international level for our contribution to politics."

Prof. Cassola said: "It is an honour to be chosen by my friends I Verdi as their candidate in this special constituency. It underscores the trans-national perspective of Green politics. Acting internationally is half-way between acting locally and thinking globally."

"Participation in the Italian election campaign will enrich my political portfolio and will serve as additional experience for future elections in Malta," he said.

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