Tuesday, 16th June 2009
AD's future
Disband or be more radical - Briguglio
Executive discusses result tonight
Dwelling on the future... AD's representatives (from left) Victor Galea, Carmel Caccopardo and Arnold Cassola at the counting hall last weekend. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi.
Alternattiva Demokratika faced a stark choice: it will have to disband or else adopt a more radical political approach, according to former Sliema councillor Michael Briguglio.
The moderate approach, which sought to make political compromises to gain wider acceptance, had not worked, he told The Times barely 24 hours after he lost his seat on the Sliema council.
"Being more radical does not mean AD will get more votes but it will ensure the party remains consistent in its beliefs. In this way it will continue to serve as a critical alternative voice to the prevailing political and mainstream structures, even if it never gets elected," Mr Briguglio said.
After a dismal performance in the European Parliament and local council elections, the party's executive committee will be meeting tonight to discuss the results and the party's future.
Mr Briguglio ruled out any formal move by AD to join the Labour Party.
"If AD dismantles it will be up to the individual members what to do. I do not think that structurally AD will take any formal decision to join Labour," he said.
Just last week in a post-mortem of the EP result, Nationalist Party MEP Simon Busuttil suggested AD activists should militate within either of the two major parties.
He even suggested the PN should approach people like Mr Briguglio, chairman Arnold Cassola and deputy chairman Stephen Cachia.
However, AD general secretary Victor Galea said AD's disappearance could create a "political vacuum" for those who wanted an alternative to the two-party system.
"I fear AD's disappearance would create space for the far-right to grow since you will always have people who vote for a third party because they do not believe in the two-party system," he said.
Mr Galea admitted the party was at a crossroads after 20 years of active political participation: "We need to do some radical thinking. After an internal discussion we should open up the debate to our members."
Tonight's executive meeting is expected to discuss whether the party should wait for October's annual general meeting or call an extraordinary meeting now to discuss the result and the party's future, among other issues.
"I do not think it is fair on the 5,000 or so people who believed in us to simply take a decision to fold up. We have to reflect hard. These were not protest votes since whoever wanted to protest against the government voted Labour. However, at the same time we activists have to respect ourselves. It is disheartening and disappointing to constantly be faced with bad results," Mr Galea said.
The general secretary was the Green Party's candidate for the Għarb local council and missed getting elected by five votes.
On the other hand, Mr Briguglio had already served for two terms on the Sliema council before losing his seat. He insisted there seemed to be a cultural and political trend for people to shift their preference between the two major parties, even at a local level.
However, Mr Briguglio added that the two major parties also managed to contain disgruntlement within the party.
"In Sliema those who were angry with the government either chose to stay at home or else voted for Nikki Dimech who was supported by Robert Arrigo," he said.
Mr Briguglio attributed AD's bad result to a number of factors, some of which were beyond the party's control such as the Broadcasting Authority's attitude that favoured the two major parties.
However, there were other issues attributable to AD's campaign.
He said the slogans adopted by the party were vague and although the "Green New Deal" was something he believed in, it proved to be "too sophisticated" for the electorate.
Mr Briguglio said AD's dismal performance eroded the bargaining power of environmental groups: "I trust NGOs and admire their work but the only thing that motivated the two big parties to take action in favour of the environment was their fear of losing votes to AD."
Referring to the PN candidature of environmentalist Alan Deidun, Mr Briguglio said the electorate seemed to believe that by having good people in the PN, the environment could be better served.
"This is not the case because the party will always remain linked to contractors and unless this link is severed there won't be change," he said.
AD's electoral performance
Alternattiva Demokratika was founded in 1989 by a group of environmental and social activists, who teamed up with Wenzu Mintoff and Toni Abela. The two had been kicked out of the Labour Party after they publicly denounced the violent and corrupt elements within the party.
Dr Mintoff had been elected to Parliament on the Labour ticket in 1987 but went on to represent AD after its formation.
AD contested its first general election in 1992, gaining over 4,000 votes but failed to elect an MP. Dr Mintoff lost his seat.
It was the first election since 1971 that a third party polled over one per cent of the national vote.
After 1992 the party's electoral fortunes did not improve, with one exception: Its best showing was in the first EP election in 2004 when its sole candidate Arnold Cassola polled over 22,000 votes and just missed making it to Brussels on the last count.
Over the years, AD also managed to elect a number of councillors in various localities, even though the party consistently failed to contest in all localities. It now has only one councillor, in Attard.
AD has had three leaders since its inception. Dr Mintoff led the party between 1989 and 1998. He was succeeded by Harry Vassallo, who resigned after last year's general election. Prof. Cassola was elected leader last year.
After last week's EP result Prof. Cassola said he would continue on as leader until the party's next general conference when he would resign irrevocably.
Election - votes
1992 - 4,186 (1.69%)
1996 - 3,820 (1.46%)
1998 - 3,208 (1.21%)
2003 - 1,929 (0.68%)
2004* - 22,938 (9.33%)
2008 - 3,810 (1.31%)
2009* - 5,802 (2.34%)
* European Parliament elections
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Comments
I also beleive AD should study hard their public image and the people they choose to speak
Few Nationalist can look at him in the eye, not even Cabinet Ministers, even less Dr.Gonzi, who condoned Cacopardo’s vile sacking from MEPA’s only credible section – Internal Audit – simply because Cacopardo stuck to his untarnished principles – MEPA reform indeed Dr.Gonzi!
Cacopardo endured the infamous 1980’s and paid personal sacrifices. Subsequently he uphold his integrity and sound principles, and did not buy a cushy chairperson post, and neither votes by promising favours if elected to parliament.
He simply stuck to his unenviable job diligently and without favours – dedicating his time to specialise in sustainable development – something mainstream politicians have got used to mention but none of them really understands.
On delving professionally in sustainable development and also experiencing first hand the abuses and “clientalism” that we’re plagued with, Carmel was drawn to the Green’s proposals and way to conduct politics.
Here is a man that sticking to unwavering principles turned his back from the “fruits” of a party-in-government, to embrace a thankless mission against all odds.
If only mainstream politicians we are lumped with, had a shred of such qualities!
These persons, embrace this task - which does not convey any financial or other rewards to them - whilst the rest of us use our time to enjoy our family/leisure/or to gain more income. Some of us even participate in one of PNPL' activities - no out of political belief but solely to have the "contacts" when we need favours!
Well neither Harry Vassallo, Arnold, Carmel Cacopardo, Victor Galea, Stephen Cachia, Mario Mallia, Ralph Cassar, Michael and the rest - have received anything similar in return for their efforts - on the contrary they get a PN party machines firing all guns at them!
Are they crazy? Maybe.....or simply they see such blantant abuse and self-defeating practices in this PNPL lead country that they simply cannot lie idle, or worse still join in.
Least we can do is to lend a helping-hand - or if politically we disagree, just respect the persons for their disinterest in personal enrichment.
Let me also put forward a slice of personal philosophy – I think it would be crazy for any of the major political parties to accept these people into their folds because they can never be trusted to tow the party line.
If eventually they ever do get elected on the party ticket of any of the major political parties they will hold that party to ransom and would definitely press their advantage when the opportunity arises. Mark my words.
Would any party leader in his right mind be willing to take that risk for a measly few hundred votes? I definitely would not.
Then again, even in the recent past, bad advice has been known to have been taken up by the party leaders with severe consequences.
The big political parties have now wisely adopted the environmental agenda and integrated it into their all-encompassing policy structures. They can lucidly assess situations by carefully putting everything into the balance thus reaching unbiased and sensible conclusions.
On the other hand, AD and some pressure groups cannot think straight due to very obvious reasons – they are too focused, too extremist, too intransigent and completely out of touch with the realities of life for the populace!! AD’s radical attitude has been its downfall!!!
Analyse the AD results together with the results of other candidates from PL and PN who uphold the same ultra-conservative views on environmental issues. These results speak for themselves.
They have taken sustainability arguments to extremes and people are intelligent enough to see through this fundamentalist attitude. They have now even alienated the moderates who initially trusted them and believed they could have made a valid contribution to the local political scene.
We Maltese do read the foreign news and know what is really happening to the green parties, and that these have been hijacked by extremists, some even proposing indiscriminate abortion to solve the planet's problems. And this is just one policy out of many extreme ideas.
Unfortunately what were once true and honest environmentalist parties and pressure groups have crossed over towards the extreme left of the political spectrum, opposing sensible scientific and social progress and preaching back-to-the-caves-policies and politics.
AD, don't desert us. But you have to stop assuming that the masses already know what you're about. In my humble opinion, you should take an "educating" role, so that when the time comes to launch a few pre-election "attacks" people will be readier to understand what you're talking about. Some of us, well, about 5,000 apparently, are sick of our politicians and sick of our children constantly needing medication because of our poor environment, and sick of spending money on fruit & vegetables with no taste and 60% less nutrients. But everyone else still needs to be made aware, and you can help us do that. Maybe you should spend the non-election time making us aware - and not just of what is wrong, but also of opportunities to purchase and to live more environmentally-friendly. Don't give up - we need you!
Well, should my party stay or should it go? If it stays, even if it becomes more radical, it will still be seen as the party who steals votes from the PN and in a general election it will continue to suffer. The PL voters will always vote Labour. It has become clear that people will gladly go on inhaling exhaust and construction dust, buying fruit from vans parked near roundabouts while voting for parties who receive money from contractors rather than vote the green party. Perhaps it is time to listen to the people: yes, to listen to them complaining about how their parties are disappointing them. And then wait for the general election and observe their happy faces after having voted them again. It is time to let the electorate reap the polluted fruits of their choices.