The political parties have come out with their interpretations of the results of the local council elections. The Malta Labour Party, following its victory, has reiterated its claim that the people want a change in leadership. On its part the Nationalist Party seems to have decided to shift its focus onto the needs of individuals.
What is striking is the reaction of Alternattiva Demokratika. Its leader, Harry Vassallo, stated that the Green Party has received an unequivocal positive response from residents. The Green Party, which vaunts itself as being the third political force on the island, maintained its seat in Sliema and won one seat (at the expense of the Nationalist Party) in Sannat, where Alternattiva Demokratika's representative was elected on the back of a wave of criticism surrounding the proposed development of the Ta' Cenc area. However, the party lost one seat in Lija and Birkirkara respectively and 1,400 (1.1 per cent) first-count votes when compared to the 2003 results. These seats were eventually won by the Malta Labour Party. What I cannot understand is why Alternattiva Demokratika did not contest localities which it had previously contested. Was this a "tactical" decision? Why didn't Alternattiva contest in Marsascala? After all, in the last round of elections the party garnered a good percentage of votes. One would have expected it to exploit the situation surrounding the development of the recycling plant.
What about Kalkara and Naxxar? Here again Alternattiva Demokratika did not contest. The reason might be that this time round there weren't any issues such as Maghtab and the development of Kalkara valley which could be exploited.
Via its inaction, Alternattiva Demokratika deprived voters the democratic right of expressing their support for the party. If Alternattiva Demokratika wishes to be seen as a credible and realistic third option for the Maltese electorate then it must show it. It shouldn't revert to the used and much criticised "tactics" of the two major political parties. If it does, then it is more of the same, just a different colour.