AD criticised the arrogance of the other two parties, who have excluded AD from talks held recently to discuss these changes. It has also reiterated its call for talks between the three parties on electoral reform.

Commenting on the government’s failure to consult AD on changes to the bill regulating local elections, AD’s secretary general Stephen Cachia said: “AD has contested the last three rounds of local elections and is currently in four local councils (Birkirkara, Sliema, Lija and Swieqi). The voice of the 9.3 per cent of the electorate who voted for AD in June 2004 cannot be ignored in these important talks. By excluding AD from these talks, the other two parties are showing that they do not really believe in political pluralism.”

Mr Cachia reiterated AD’s call for talks on electoral reform. “The general secretaries of the PN and the MLP had accepted AD’s invitation to hold these talks during a TV programme after last June’s election for the European Parliament.

“We expect them to honour this commitment. Those opposing electoral reform do not really believe in democracy and European values. Malta and Gozo are the only European country in which only two parties are represented in parliament,” he said.