Briguglio uncontested for Green Party leader

Michael Briguglio is expected to be confirmed Alternattiva Demokratika chairman at the party's annual general conference on Saturday, ushering in a generational leadership change.

Change will not stop at the leadership post since general secretary Victor Galea will also step down to be replaced by veteran AD activist Ralph Cassar, 35. Living up to the party's tradition, nobody else will be contesting the two posts.

Mr Briguglio, a sociologist who lectures at the University of Malta, will be AD's fourth leader since the party's inception 20 years ago and the first not to be a founding member. His predecessors, Wenzu Mintoff, Harry Vassallo and Arnold Cassola were among the Green Party's founding members in 1989.

Having militated in leftist organisations such as Graffitti and Żminijietna, Mr Briguglio's leadership is expected to shift the party to the left.

"AD must be a green party, radical in its message but realistic in its strategy and goals," the 34-year-old said when contacted.

The party's message, he added, must not be moderate or diluted to the extent that it loses its appeal.

"For me a green party has to profess social justice, ecological justice and civil rights," Mr Briguglio said of the leftist credentials.

His job will also entail the creation of structures at a regional and grass roots level to widen the party's operating base. Outgoing chairman Arnold Cassola, who led the party for the 18 months, is expected to retain a seat on the executive committee occupying the post of international secretary.

Meanwhile, Mr Galea, the outgoing general secretary who held the post for the past five years, will not retain a seat on the executive committee but is expected to focus his political work in Gozo.

Carmel Cacopardo is expected to remain a member on the executive committee.