UPDATED: Cassola to step down in October

At least Cassola can see the writing on the wall. Alternattiva as a leftist party has fizzled out and it is no surprise when one sees how much the Right has won all over Europe. The Left is dying a natural death - and thank heaven for that. Oity that the Gahan Malti still persists in voting for the two Jurassic monsters of the PN and the PL who represent neither Right nor Left!!!!

I think we need a resignation culture.

More is a question of sour grapes!

And so Malta loses one of the few politicians with values and integrity. He tried to do politics in a mature way. He said out loud what we mumbled in the corners. He tried to protect our country from opportunists. He tried to get some sense into us and we told him No Thank You.

There is nothing left for him but to say: I did what I could but you weren't interested.
So he is resigning. But not as a loser. He is resigning as the only winner in this dirty game.

The losers are us.

Thank you Arnold Cassola, may there be more like you, when the electorate is ready.
And may other politicians follow your example.

I greatly admire Dr. Cassola and I did give him a vote, but it was only a 6 or a 7. There are far more important matters at hand in this country in the short-term, even though the environment is integral to our sustainable development.

But after seeing the PN becoming more leftist than the PL itself, I do believe that there is no space for yet another left wing party like AD.

Arise Mr. Lowell...

@ Deguara and Mangion

By any chance is it a case of sour grapes?

There is dire need of resignation culture in Malta.

If the question was about Sant then yes I was referring to him. Secondly, be careful about the manipulation allegations. Gonzi won and he is in Government. It is useless to win all the elections and staying in opposition.

I admit that the PN didn't fair well in this election due to a number of issues. They'd better arrange things. I am man enough to admit and say that what is wrong is wrong.

Mangion and Deguara seem to excuse their former leader's past behaviour

I say, let us all live in traffic, filth, constructuion debris, noise, congestion, and a deterioating way of life. That's what we want - That is what this country and its people deserve!!!!

Arnold Cassola is a true example of an honest and principled politician, one of Malta's best, and, indeed an inspiration for the Green movement. Arnold is not only the excellent politician one sees on the TV screens, but also the person who works his heart out to have AD's administration functioning as it should, and a true friend. Above all, Arnold has always been down-to-earth, close to the people and has always welcome valuable proposals.

The main problem with Alternattiva is that they back the greens group in the EP. This group is made up of extremists who have no tolerance for others who have different opinions.

@Joe Camilleri
Its not a matter that the Maltese don't care of the enviorment, we have the PN in goverment who has done a lot and a lot more coming. Pass from the Bahar ic-Caghaq coast road, and that is an example. Bring-in sites, wasteserve, waste separation etc; etc

Alternattiva has lost not because the maltese don't care about the enviroment but because of their attitude towards illegal immigrants. Dr. Cassola was simply not thrusted by the electorate because AD are viewed as party that is in favour of illegal immigration. Can you thrust a Maltese MEP in brussels that is in favour of immigrants?

When over 95% of the country is against illegal immigrants its suicidal to take such a stand. AD have only themselves to blame and not voters that preferred lowell or that the maltese want a two party system. A party that takes such an approach as they have taken is simply doomed. We can also add besides illegal immigration their lobbying for landlords. The era of the green parties is over.

Arnold, quoting Norman Lowell, you won the battle of ideas, which is the most important battle of all. Well done.

AD do not give up... With Labour sounding ever more xenophobic and PN still going for polluting powerstations and a destructive MEPA, AD is an important alternative.

AD may never win a general election under the present corrupt rules, but AD could really become a powerful local and European voice...

By now, the Maltese TRUST the green party, they just don't have CONFIDENCE in it... but it will get there, like it almost got there in 2004.

@ david borda

If this someone else you are referring to who is losing election after election and still remains there is Dr. Lawrence Gonzi, please be in formed that our Prime Minister lost a lot of battles but he won the WAR.

That is why he is still there, and will stay there for at least 4 years more. In fact this morning he reported again at his usual place of work - CASTILE - The Office of the Prime Minister.

well it's a shame. we maltese never learn. its just blue or red. nothing else matters. when will we ever be out of this status quo??

Very sad news indeed for Arnold and his dedicated team. In my opinion such a result reflects the disappointing situation where environment is not percieved as being one of the main cornerstones for the well being of society be it health, economy, education, jobs, etc... If more Maltese people give priority to such issues, AD would enjoy wider support and can perhaps begin to compete against the other 2 giant political parties! Prosit anyhow - on a more positvie note, great to see that the Greens have done well on an EU level!!!

I guess this is the end for AD .....

The biggest 'fault' AD has is that it prefers to tell the truth than tell people what they want to hear. And I'll continue voting them for that 'fault'

when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Erik DeBattista (20 minutes ago)
@borda a very constructive comment indeed! and

David borda (25 minutes ago)
@At least there is someone gentleman enough to resign after a hefty defeat, not like someone else, losing election after election and still remained there

i think you are referring to your ex leader Dr Alfred Sant no, loosing 4 decisive general elections, but still remained at the helm of your party.

Grow up both of you, if you are not happy with Dr Gonzi's performance, which i tend to partially agree with you, than use your vote wisely at the right time and at the right moment, that is either in a local council election or even better a general election. This election had nothing to do with Gonzi's performance. This was a European Election which Malta took part with outher European Countries. Kemm ahna wisq iffissati fuq politika u kuluri. Even if PN won with a handful of votes and with no absolute majority in the last general election, il-poplu malti ta mandat lil gonzi ghal hames snin. Now wait for four years, assess his performance and then do send him the right message at the right time.

It is sad, but it was the right thing to do. Unfortunately the result was not a good one. This was mostly due to the current mood in the country vis-a-vis immigration. AD was the only party not playing (or fanning) people's fears and thus lost a lot of potential protest votes to other parties.

Whilst I have long admired Prof. Cassola I think that his standing among the Maltese electorate has diminished significantly since 2004 and this is due to the fact that few find it acceptable that he is politically active in two countries.

I hope that AD continue. There is still room for a party with a genuine social and environmental conscience.

Shows how the maltese really care about the enviorment

@ david borda: At least there is someone gentleman enough to resign after a hefty defeat, not like someone else, losing election after election and still remained there( your comment) Tell us please, Did you mean like sant DID after Three National Election he LOST one after the Other ??? grow up buddy, grow up !

Thanks Prof Cassola; your input has been valid all along.

@ David Borda I also admire people like Dr Cassola for being man enough to accept the people's message. If only Dr Gonzi was also man enough to realise that (1) people haven't got over the freak and manipulated 2008 election result, and (2) his party's popularity record since the election has been abysmal.

Professor Cassola has always been an examplary politician preaching the principles of good governance as practiced in the best achieving economies. It is a great loss for this Country but afterall people gets the leaders it deserves. I know it will sound undemocratic, but if one needs a licence to drive a car, why should one vote without one. A simple IQ test might do the trick. The people will realise what green means when they start paying ten times the water and electricity tariffs they pay today, the problem is I'll have to do the same.

Since from a green party A.D became a landlords lobby , it marked the end of Alternativa

Someone who switches to an Italian leftist party when the opportunity arises, is not welcome in politics. We need people with a vision not opportunists. There is actually no place for Alternattiva which is a bland party like the 2 other big ones.

Cassola might go back to the Italian Parliament...or follow Harry Vassallo....or join MLP....quite an option.

@borda a very constructive comment indeed!

Though understandable it's a pity. Anxious to show their anger,I dare say,people wanted to make sure that the Government got a beating and a lot of the 'Green' vote went to labour,whilst the rest,foolishly perhaps ,went to Alan Deidun. Rightly or wrongly,they wanted to make sure their vote wasn't wasted.It's no reflection on AD though it may look that way.

At least there is someone gentleman enough to resign after a hefty defeat, not like someone else, losing election after election and still remained there

Biex partit gdid jaghmel hoss f'din il-gzira irid bilfors ikollu l-gazzetta tieghu u Tv tieghu.

One must give credit to Prof. Cassola. Accountability in politics is as rare as jellyfish free seas nowadays ...