Alternattiva Demokratika, which yesterday elected Arnold Cassola as its new chairman, has adopted a motion calling for an abrogative referendum on spring hunting.
The motion was passed at the party’s annual general meeting held yesterday in Valletta, where deputy chairman Carmel Cacopardo urged people against spring hunting to join AD to collect as many signatures as possible.
The process is expected to take 11 months, and some 34,000 signatures were needed as the referendum can only be called through 10 per cent of the electoral register population.
Another motion reaffirming AD’s position in favour of an increase of the minimum wage for part-timers and full-timers, many of whom were victims of precarious work, was also adopted.
The meeting had been previously postponed because no one nominated themselves for the post of chairman to succeed Michael Briguglio, who stepped down after the election. Former chairman Arnold Cassola eventually submitted his nomination. Prof. Cassola had taken the helm of AD in 2008 after the departure of Harry Vassallo. A year later he unsuccessfully contested the MEP elections.
During the AGM Prof. Cassola was elected chairman, Mr Cacopardo deputy chairman, Ralph Cassar general secretary, Philip Cachia deputy general secretary, Reuben Zammit press officer, Claire Azzopardi Lane international secretary and Simon Galea treasurer.
None of the contenders was contested but all nominations to the party posts required approval of at least 50 per cent plus one of the votes cast.
Prof. Cassola said that he had decided to seek the leadership out of loyalty to the 5,500 “courageous” people who voted for the party at the last general election.
He urged more people to opt for cross-party voting, adding that the party’s next step was the European Parliament elections.
During the same meeting, AD also made public its financial expenditure between June 2012 and 2013 which totalled €15,000, while the total income stood at €10,225. Some €13,500 of this was spent during the election campaign.