Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Carmel Cacopardo is among three candidates the party will be fielding in European Parliament elections scheduled for next May.

In a statement issued on Saturday, AD said it had approved three candidates for the upcoming elections. Joining Mr Cacopardo on the ballot sheet will be party co-founder and former chairman Arnold Cassola, as well as LGBTIQ activist Mina Tolu.

“Our principles and policies focus on people and not on the interests of corporations,” said party secretary general Ralph Cassar. “A Green vote is a strong message in favor of consistency, effective and serious policies and clean politics. It is a vote of principle, not a vote of convenience”.

Mr Cassar did not exclude more candidates joining the party’s list.

All three approved candidates will be hoping to become AD’s first-ever elected representative and reverse the party’s poor showing at the 2017 general election, when it polled less than 1 per cent of the vote.

Mr Cacopardo, an architect by profession, has served as AD chairman since 2017. Prof. Cassola put up the party’s best-ever result when he came within a whisker of a European Parliament seat in 2004.

Ms Tolu, 27, is an activist who has contributed to campaigns for LGBTIQ, women’s and children’s rights for several years.

Ms Tolu is an experienced campaigner and activist.

Prof. Cassola will hope to repeat his 2004 performance.