Original plans for villas to be built in Xlendi have now been changed to blocks of flats, something Gozitans were complaining about, Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Harry Vassallo said. Some people, he said, have been given permission to build more than three floors and others in the same street were not allowed to do so.

"This is a typical situation which takes place every five years on the eve of a general election. But now the situation is alarming," he told a press conference in Xlendi.

He said an ever-increasing number of Gozitans were complaining to AD officials regarding the injustices they were suffering.

"The mistakes taking place now and the breach of planning laws, especially during the election period, will result in confusion and injustice to others who will have to suffer for many years to come," he said.

Serious planning and accountability will only come about when the Nationalist Party and the Labour Party decide to enact laws controlling party finances, Dr Vassallo said, adding that this was far from becoming reality unless AD was elected to form a coalition government.

"Lately, we heard the PN promise to regulate party finances but it would have been more credible if it introduced the law before the upcoming election."

AD in a coalition government would work towards real and sustainable progress and would eradicate the "stagnant political system" by regulating political party finances and bring "much needed" reform to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, he said.