The annual general meting of Alternattiva Demokratika, held yesterday, approved a document which will form the basis of the party’s electoral manifesto.
Alternattiva’s vision is that of a society built on sustainable development that respects the environment, on meritocracy and on social justice. Democracy is seen as a continued regeneration process. The party will continue to insist on the need for the country’s institutions to be and to appear ever more democratic, not just in theory but also in practice.
Alternattiva aims at improving the quality of life and measures such quality not just through a financial measurement but more from the point of view of physical health and mental health of every person, while seeking to balance work with free time.
Opening the AGM, party leader Harry Vassallo said that while young people are undergoing huge sacrifices to purchase property, the country has 53,000 unused property. This is a shameful situation that the Nationalist Party and the Labour Party did not address.
AD is proposing a wholesale reform of property because it has the courage to confront problems instead of running away from them.
Dr Vassallo also mentioned public transport and said Malta should be the envy of the whole world in this sector but instead even here the government is shirking from facing up to ist responsibilities. Buses have been purchased from China and work on outdated technology instead of buses which work on electricity or on gas. The quality of life is lacking and a sustainable public transport would also help cut costs for families.
Dr Vassallo said AD will make it to Parliament this time round because the people have understood that only through AD is change possible. The other parties in Parliament are hostages to speculators and contractors.
In the ensuing discussion, according to an AD press release, it was pointed out that AD respects people as adults who can decide about their own personal lives. As regards the divorce issue, both PN and MLP treat people as immature.
Italian MP Arnold Cassola said this ‘hypocrisy’ must end for the State must recognize that people deserve another chance in life. The law must recognize new relationships and regularize them. It is not fair that such people are left in a limbo just because the other parties are afraid to face up to the issue.
Mario Mallia referred to education and said that although new schools are being built, there are still huge administrative gaps that are not being addressed. For instance, there are many acting heads that have been acting for quite a long time.
Edward Fenech referred to Income Tax and said the tax bands must reflect the number of children in that family. Malta still has the lowest maternity leave in Europe: AD is proposing this is increased to 26 weeks.