More centre, less left

One cannot but admire Alternattiva Demokratika's Green credentials. If all of society were to heed the warnings the Greens sound from time to time, I am convinced we would be living in a better environment, damaging less our health and the health of future generations.

Yet, no matter how much one admires AD's efforts in favour of the natural environment, one cannot but disagree with Desmond Zammit Marmarà's endorsement of the proposal for an MLP-AD "marriage" (October 1).

Whereas Labour probably shares much of AD's enthusiasm for the environment, there are other very important values on which the two political entities do not seem to agree.

Let us consider the values inspiring social rights.

The Greens, at least on a European level, are in favour of same-sex marriages. Is Mr Zammit Marmarà sure that the majority of Labourites would favour such a transformation of the institute of marriage? Despite the quarrels in the past with some of the leaders of the local Church, the majority of Labourites embrace Catholic values. The Greens, at least on a European level, are all in favour of the secularisation of society.

The majority, at least, seem in favour of the idea that not only do immigrants have to adapt to Europe but that Europe has to adapt to the immigrants. Is Mr Zammit Marmarà sure that the majority of Labourites are in favour of this multiculturalism? Is the majority of the Maltese electorate in its favour?

Actually, by Mr Zammit Marmarà's own admission, "the Maltese electorate seems to be very conservative these days". Why, then, advocate a coalition which would shift Labour leftward?

As the party representing the working classes and small entrepreneurs, Labour should strive to build alliances with entities representing these sectors of society, rather than embarking upon a venture that can only alienate it from a "very conservative" electorate.