News • 19 January 2003

MLP’s action raises AD’s ire

Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson Dr Harry Vassallo announced that the MLP was attempting to strike off AD spokesperson for European Union affairs, Prof Arnold Cassola, from the electoral register.

Dr Vassallo described the attempt to deny Cassola his fundamental right to vote as an attack on the country’s democratic values, exposing the MLP leadership’s contempt for basic democratic values.

Contacted by MaltaToday, Prof Arnold Cassola said that this clearly shows the MLP’s vile means of getting back at its political adversaries: "In its desperation, Labour is resorting to weak political arguments, seeing AD as a strong pro-EU rival."

"The law is totally disgusting, the way people, including the elderly, are being treated. This goes against the fundamental European right to vote and I will certainly make sure that the authorities and European socialist parties, who are allied with the Greens in a number of European countries, will be informed of the MLP’ s anti-democratic actions."

Dr Harry Vassallo expressed AD’s appreciation of Prof Cassola’s work in the European parliament.

"Instead of recognising Arnold Cassola’s valuable work for the country through his work as General Secretary of the European Federation of Green Parties, the MLP is resorting to dirty tactics. Arnold Cassola is the first Maltese person to be elected as general secretary of a major European political family. Cassola has kept constant contact with Maltese civil society while in Brussels. He also gave his contribution so that Malta gains the best possible conditions in the European Union. This is something which should make us all proud to be Maltese".

Dr Harry Vassallo also appealed to Maltese civil society to protest against the blatant abuse of power by both MLP and PN, who are trying to deny the basic voting rights of Maltese and Gozitan citizens.

"Instead of recognising the contribution of the elderly towards the country, both parties are sending letters to these citizens in which they are described as mentally unable to exercise their democratic rights. This is scandalous in a society in which respect for the elderly is a basic value. It is also scandalous that people doing social, voluntary and political work abroad, could be axed from the electoral registers by the party machines of the MLP and PN".