Carmel Cacopardo and Arnold Cassola will contest the MEP elections next May on behalf of Alternattiva Demokratika, secretary general Ralph Cassar announced.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Cassar said the candidates represented the consistency of the party’s mantra - Magħna taf fejn int (With us, you know where you stand).

Prof. Cassola said AD had remained consistent on most social, economic and environmental issues and would continue to do so in the European Parliament. Asked whether he thought the selection of candidates reflected a lack of new blood in the party ranks, he insisted the selection meant AD had put its best foot forward.

“We are realistically gunning for one seat. Two would just be presumptuous, with this selection I believe it is attainable,” he said, adding that electing candidates exclusively from the two other main parties would leave Malta out of the EU’s green lobby.

Picking up on the issue, Mr Cacopardo said the European Parliament was the best forum in which to fight on a variety of international issues.

“Just last week a Sicilian mafioso was charged with dumping toxic waste off the coast of Sicily. We need to have a presence in the European Parliament to work on these issues,” he said.

Mr Cassar also announced the upcoming Green Primary which will see two members of the European Green Party selected to run for leader.

Prof Cassola said that unlike the Socialist and conservative blocks, the Greens believed in civilian participation.

The online voting system is available to any EU resident above the age of 16 and is open from today until January 28.

www.greenprimary.eu