The Nationalist and Democratic parties will be campaigning on a joint manifesto agreed upon by both, according to PD deputy leader Anthony Buttigieg.

“If we win the election and the PD has some of its candidates elected, we will govern as two parties in a coalition,” Dr Buttigieg said in a Talking Point appearing on Times of Malta today.

Dr Buttigieg said that the PD, led by former Labour MP Marlene Farrugia, originally wanted both parties to campaign on a joint ticket, to ensure that number one votes would not be split, using their own banners, “under the title of a ‘Coalition for change’ or something similar”. But a two-man legal team set up by both parties concluded that the PD’s proposal would not work.

TALKING POINT: Coalition or to coalesce? 

“The only way we could campaign as a team was if we both decided to have our candidates listed under the banner of an already extant party. It was that or form a brand-new party and, quite simply, there is no time for that because the election can be called anytime,” he said.

When people “disgruntled or disenfranchised with the prevailing state of politics in Malta” were asked what they thought, Dr Buttigieg said “a coalition where the first preference votes would count to oust this disgusting administration and, at the same time, serve as a system of check and balance for any future PN government” was preferred.

READ: PD to contest election under PN banner