Alternattiva Demokratika said today that it spent €15,000 in the year from June 2012, of which €13,000 were spent during the electoral campaign. Total income was €10,225.
[attach id=260318 size="medium"]Arnold Cassola[/attach]
The announcement was made as the political party held its annual general meeting.
The meeting had been previously postponed because no one nominated himself for the post of leader to succeed Michael Briguglio, who has stepped down.
Former leader Arnold Cassola eventually submitted his nomination. Voting took place during the meeting since all nominations to the party posts require approval of at least 50% of votes cast, even when contenders are uncontested.
The contenders were Arnold Cassola for chairman, Carmel Cacopardo, deputy chairman, and Ralph Cassar, Secretary General, were elected unanimously. 25 people voted.
Dr Cassola said he had decided to seek the leadership out of loyalty to the 5,500 people who voted for the party at the last general elections. He look forward to the party celebrating its 25th anniversary next year and said the party's challenge was the European Elections next May.
Dr Cassola urged more people to opt for cross-party voting and also referred to the Dalli case, noting that it was the Greens who first raised the issue of irregularities in the investigation.
Prof. Cassola served as chairman of AD between June 2008 and October 2009.
Also elected today were Philip Cachia,deputy general secretary, Reuben Zammit PRO, Claire Azzopardi Lane international secretary, Simon Galea treasurer, and Robert Callus, David Camilleri, Mario Mallia, Henrik Piski and Nighat Urpani members of the executive.
SPRING HUNTING REFERENDUM
Two motions - one against precarious work and another seeking an abrogative referendum on spring hunting, were moved and approved.
Angele Deguara, who presented the motion about precarious work, said this was on the increase and affected people from different social sectors.
The motion confirmed AD's position in favour of an increase in the minimum wage for part timers and full timers to reflect reality.
The other motion, about a referendum against spring hunting, was proposed by the party executive.
Mr Cacopardo said it was time for the people to choose once the major parties were unable to do so.
He added it would take around 11 months to collect signatures 10 per cent of population needs to sign a petition for the referendum to be called). The petition would be presented to the Electoral Commission which would hold the referendum following approval by the Constitutional Court.