Arnold Cassola was unanimously elected chairman of Alternattiva Demokratika yesterday during an extraordinary general meeting that saw his predecessor Harry Vassallo bowing out of the party leadership, “to enjoy the (his) first summer in many years”.

In his farewell speech, Dr Vassallo spoke about the party’s financial constraints, which were also outlined by its post election report. He reminded everyone that he had found a heavily indebted party on assuming the chairmanship nine years ago. “After each and every election they are all dressed in black, expecting our funeral,” he said in reference to the parties in parliament, “yet AD has always emerged from the ashes”.

He stressed that having adequate funding does not imply automatic achievement of results and praised AD for making the most of its limited resources.

Dr Vassallo described AD’s ideas as being ahead of their time. “After campaigning in favour of the environment for years, the two bigger parties have now started to put this issue at the forefront of their policies,” he said.

He reiterated that the party is a Leftist one and said he was frustrated that AD had failed to release its full potential onto the political scene.

The former chairman said he had served the party for 19 years, as a soldier, staff officer and general and he counted himself as returning from the front and taking leave in order to enjoy his first summer for many years. He also paid tribute to his wife Sue for her unflinching devotion.

Dr Vassallo pleaded to party members to take good care of Prof. Cassola, as a party chairman’s job is a lonely one.

Addressing the meeting after his election, Prof. Cassola mentioned another aspect highlighted by the report, that of AD being perceived as a one-issue party.

Although AD has spoken about a myriad of things, he said, people still associate it solely with the protection of the environment. He suggested that the party should speak more about bread-and-butter issues in order to stimulate greater recognition at grassroots level.

The former member of the Italian Parliament reminded his party that in a year’s time, AD will be facing another electoral test: European Parliament and local council elections.

He exhorted the party not to take for granted the 3,800 voters who had voted for it on 8 March, nor the 20,000 voters who voted for him in the EP election in 2004.

Prof. Cassola said he will have no qualms about endorsing the government on matters of consensus in the same way as he will not refrain from criticising it on matters such as the way it introduced Malta to the Partnership for Peace, which he described as contempt of parliament.

He promised to speak to both major party leaders in order to arrive at a suitable nominee for the position of President of the Republic who is not boycotted by half of parliament.

Prof. Cassola is a founder member of AD and succeeds Dr Vassallo who has led the party since 1999. Wenzu Mintoff was the first leader of the party from its foundation in 1989.