Alternattiva Demokratika will collaborate with any new political force as long as its principles do not conflict with its own, according to chairman Arnold Cassola.

He said AD was anti-racist, pro-European, for civil rights, pro-environment and championed good governance.

Prof. Cassola said his party, which in 27 years failed to get elected to Parliament, had to keep its eyes open for developments in society.

He was speaking at the end of the party annual conference that confirmed him as chairman for another year. The reference was to independent MP Marlene Farrugia’s initiative to set up a political party of centre-left inspiration. Dr Farrugia has held talks with AD exponents.

Prof. Cassola said people were yearning for a third party in Parliament and new faces were not necessarily a guarantee for correct behaviour.

“We had new faces last time around in the likes of Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri and look at what they have done,” he said, adding AD had always been honest with its electorate.

Hitting out at the major parties for ditching political correctness, he said AD will be joining several civil society organisations in a protest calling for the resignation of Dr Mizzi and Mr Schembri on May 7. The Panama affair dragged on for too long because of the Prime Minister’s procrastination, he said.

It was time for people to stand up and voice their opposition to the moral degradation in the political sphere, he added. “Enough is enough, we want a better country where truth will prevail.”

Prof. Cassola said it was not normal for politicians to have companies in Panama and seek to open bank accounts in a myriad of countries across the world. “It is not normal either for a politician to pay for construction work five years after it is done, or to receive a car as a gift,” he insisted.

Carmel Cacopardo was confirmed deputy chairperson while Ralph Cassar was uncontested for the post of general secretary.