AD secretary-general 'cautiously optimistic' about impact of environmental lobby

While the environment may be at the forefront of the political agenda thanks to the spring hunting referendum, Green Party Secretary-General Ralph Cassar remains unsure how much of an impact this can have in the long run.

22 March 2015, 10:00am
by Raphael Vassallo

1 min read

It's not easy being Green: Ralph Cassar • Photo by Ray Attard

“It isn’t easy being Green.” This has certainly been true for Alternattiva Demokratika’s electoral performances over the years – at least during general elections – and March 2013 was no exception. At the same time, however, there is a perspective from which the Green Party suddenly appears more relevant than ever.

However, with the spring hunting referendum campaign in full swing, could AD be poised to stake a real political claim among the population at large?

Polls indicate a resurgence of environmental angst of late: and the verdict of independent observers (including former AD chairman Michael Briguglio) on the first two years of a Labour government suggests that its most conspicuous ‘failures’, so to speak, have concerned environmental issues.

However, AD secretary general remains cautiously optimistic about this prospect, which appears to be logical enough on paper, but which is undercut by recent history.

"What I mean is that people often pay lip service to the environment, but when push comes to shove, it’s the economy that counts. And whether the price of petrol is one or two cents cheaper or more expensive.”

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