AD also expressed its satisfaction regarding the growing support for its candidature Arnold Cassola.

A meeting for AD activists was yesterday addressed by deputy chairman Mario Mallia and AD’s EP candidate Professor Cassola.

The meeting was also addressed by former University Students’ Council (KSU) and Studenti Demokristjani Maltin (SDM) president Jacques Zammit and TV personalities Josephine Mallia of Iva Le Ma Nafx fame.

Ms Mallia referred to the partisan pique characterising the campaigns of the Nationalist Party and Malta Labour Party, and called on voters to give their first preference to Prof. Cassola.

“Last year we had two opportunities to vote: in the referendum and the general election. In these elections I voted to ensure that Malta joins the European Union. Now we are facing another important choice to ensure a better future for our children in Europe. Prof. Cassola is our top man, and we cannot miss the opportunity to elect him in the EP.”

In his speech, Dr Zammit called on voters to give their first preference to Prof. Cassola and then continue carefully on other valid candidates.

Dr Zammit also referred to the scaremongering campaign against AD. Referring to allegations on AD’s stand on abortion, Dr Zammit said: “Abortion is against my principles. I expressed my concern about the issue by contacting Harry Vassallo and I was completely reassured that AD is against abortion. I consider this allegation an enormous blunder committed by the PN. All those who want democratic change and believe in past Nationalist slogans like solidarity, and work, justice and liberty should use their vote to elect Prof. Cassola.”

Referring to the PN’s new billboard, Mr Mallia challenged the PN to give a true account of reality rather than the impression that the European Peoples Party dominates Europe in the same way that the PN dominates Malta.

“In order to strengthen Malta’s voice we need representation in more than two European political families. The EPP has the largest number of seats in the EP, but this is not translated into an automatic parliamentary majority.

“Decisions in the EP are not taken on a winner takes all basis as happens in Malta.

“Unlike the PN and MLP, European political parties are mature enough to seek consensus on many issues.”

Where such a consensus is lacking, alliances are constructed between different political families.

The vote of smaller parties like the Greens and the Liberals are vital in the approval of legislation in the EP, Mr Mallia explained.

It is clear that the PN is not heeding the warning of the European Parliament president Pat Cox, who recently said it would not be in Malta’s best interest if Maltese MEPs tried to export their partisan mentality to Brussels.

The PN’s attempt to dismiss the Greens because the EPP is the largest party ignores the reality of European politics.

Most EU countries are governed by coalition governments. Will Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi dismiss the Latvian Green prime minister because he belongs to a smaller political family?

Will Foreign Minister John Dalli dismiss German Foreign Minister Jocshka Fischer for the same reason?

Prof. Cassola referred to the crucial importance of the Green vote in the European Parliament: “Mr Cox is neither a member of the EPP nor of the PES. He forms part of the ELDR, the liberal democratic European political family. Mr Cox defeated his Socialist rival for the same post after the Greens joined the EPP and the ELDR in voting for Mr Cox in the second round of voting.

“Fortunately, in this case the EPP did not dismiss Mr Cox because he belongs to a small political family.

“In this case, the EPP gave its support for a candidate from a smaller party to occupy one of the top institutional posts in the European Union.

“In this case, the vote of the Greens was of vital importance. This is just one instance where the Green vote in the EP was crucial.

“By gaining a representative in the Green Political family Malta will gain more influence. The Greens have the same access to information as the PES and the EPP, and they are also represented in all parliamentary committees,” he concluded.