Updated: AD decides to contest after being told that leave is optional

Alternattiva Demokratika said this afternoon it will be contesting local elections as it had been informed by the principal permanent secretary that leave for public service employees was optional and candidates could opt not to take it.

Earlier today, the party threathened that if restrictions by the Office of the Prime Minister on public sector employees are not removed, it would not contest the local council elections.

The party was referring to a directive that public sector employees wishing to contest the elections are to take leave prior to the election.

"It is absurd that the Office of the Prime Minister is penalising local candidates by asking them to take special unpaid leave or leave for offering to give a voluntary service to their locality. This is obviously detrimental to all candidates who work in the public service, and especially to those who   come from small parties or who are independent candidates. We have no doubt that this is the true reason why this new directive was introduced less than a year ago and with restricted circulation," AD chairman Michael Briguglio said.

He said the party realised in the past few days that very few were aware of the directive's existence.

"In such a context of bad faith and manoeuvres to restrict participation of citizens in Malta's democratic process, AD - TheGreen Party will be withdrawing its 10 candidates from the forthcoming local council elections, unless the directive is revised so as not to punish public service employees who choose to give a service to their locality", he added.

"AD will keep this in mind in forthcoming strategies for the general election".

The government explained yesterday that its policy was aimed at broadening participation by government employees in elections, while safeguarding the impartiality of public administration. 

It said that public service employees who declare themselves candidates for local elections 'have the opportunity' to take special unpaid leave during the electoral campaign, unless they wished to use their normal leave. 

AD said earlier that the candidates were actually being 'forced' to take two weeks of unpaid leave.