Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Harry Vassallo said yesterday he will be offering his resignation during the coming party meeting in a month's time or so.
Although he is willing to stay on if the party asks him to do so, Dr Vassallo made it clear he would like to serve AD as a "foot soldier" rather than in the role of a leader.
"I am willing to serve my party in any role and circumstance. I would very much like to serve it not as party leader. I would very much enjoy politics as a foot soldier. It will be a burden to me if the party chooses me as leader once more but I will serve it in any role that is given to me."
Dr Vassallo said he could not hide his disappointment that AD did not obtain a "much better" result, although this was a small step towards more European-style politics.
Although the general opinion was that a third party in Parliament is needed, this feeling was not reflected in results.
Throughout the campaign Dr Vassallo kept repeating his conviction that AD would achieve a parliamentary representation this time around. However, the party only managed to get 1.31 per cent of the total vote, less than the 1.69 per cent in 1992, the first time it contested. Although this time around AD increased its percentage of votes over 2003's by 0.68 percentage points, in the last election it had actually campaigned for number two votes.
Asked by The Times whether, considering the result, the party had thought about calling it a day, Dr Vassallo said: "Don't worry, we cannot be killed". AD was a "living and true" message and would remain alive until somebody was able to contradict it. Speaking at a press conference at the party's headquarters in Sliema - where PN supporters could be heard celebrating in the streets - Dr Vassallo said AD will reflect and examine its way forward and see how it can give a more effective contribution to Maltese society.
The next five years will require more political maturity and sensitivity since no party has an absolute majority.
Dr Vassallo said although AD had won the equivalent of a quota, it will still not be represented in Parliament. He spoke about the importance of looking at the electoral system and working towards elections where the debate is based on content rather than personal attacks. In this election AD had received the worst attack since it started contesting but had weathered it with dignity, calmness and maturity.
He congratulated PN leader Lawrence Gonzi and thanked outgoing MLP leader Alfred Sant for his service. He expressed hope that the Prime Minister will keep his word and work towards a Freedom of Information Act and a Whistleblower Act, a law on party finances and so that no public funds are used for propaganda purposes. It seemed as if the Prime Minister saw an important threat in AD and it had even been eliminated from EU membership celebrations.
Dr Vassallo denied claims he had ever collected tax money and kept it for himself, as suggested by the Prime Minister in a televised debate between party leaders on the eve of the election.
He said AD still had plans to set up a television station and expressed hope that this would soon be up and running.