In a statement, AD said that Professor Arnold Cassola lobbied intensively with all political parties in the EP and managed to convince all parties that Malta should have six seats.

AD chairman Harry Vassallo said: “Our strategy was to link Malta to Hungary and the Czech Republic because all of them were asking for more seats. AD urged the government to insist on the six seats. But in Copenhagen the Maltese government did not insist while Hungary and the Czech republic continued insisting and managed to achieve more seats.

This happened because the Nationalist government preferred not to insist on this and not because of a lack of support from AD.”