In his letter Why I Should Vote For The Green Party (April 13), Nighat Urpani refers, in a somewhat covert way, to MEP candidate Alan Deidun and his pro-environmental campaign, even though Mr Urpani does not have the decency to refer to him by name.

Dr Deidun has already proven that he does not toe the party line where needs be and he should be lauded by Alternattiva Demokratika, rather than continuously being chastised and boycotted. I assumed that environmental issues trumped partisan politics for AD but it seems I have been proven wrong. AD are no different from other political parties in that they seek to get elected, whatever the cost involved, including denigrating Green politicians hailing from different folds.

I was personally mulling over voting Green this time round but AD's uncompromising stance towards other Green candidates, albeit hailing from other political denominations, has convinced me otherwise. Arnold Cassola himself has tried to belittle the work of other MEP candidates, as if environmental issues were the prerogative of AD only. AD should not be so miffed that its cause celebre - i.e. the environment - is adopted as a priority campaign theme by other candidates who, after all, have been working in the environmental sphere for years on end and who, unlike most AD members, have the technical expertise to speak with confidence on environmental matters.

Mr Urpani argues that the Greens in the European Parliament have consistently voted in favour of pro-environmental legislation while the EPP deserves the wooden spoon in this regard. Hence, if I may ask, which is the most pressing need - that of maintaining the Greens' foothold in the European Parliament, with all the limitations that their limited numbers dictate, or of reforming from within the EPP grouping, which carries most clout? I think that the position ejoyed by the EPP-ED as the most widely-represented group in the European Parliament can be attributed to some frigging good reasons, as the championing of the quality of life of European citizens, which consistently place their trust in such a grouping. Speaking of consistency, against the backdrop of a new "Green Deal" touted by AD, which includes provisions for many new Green jobs, how consistent is AD when it continuously shoots down government's proposal to have an offshore wind farm at Sikka l-Bajda? Not even Prof. Cassola mentioned such a laudable project in his article a few days later, but rather chose to focus solely on solar and PV projects.

Although the Greens' motto solicits the electorate to think big, they are in fact thinking small since they are not aspiring for a Green reform of the EPP-ED, which is a much more grandiose and ambitious preposition. Preaching to the converted - i.e. to the Greens - is not on - trying to convert the grouping traditionally associated with business interests, the EPP-ED, should be our priority on June 6. Electing Dr Deidun is the first modest step towards achieving that ambitious goal. AD, please take note.