They have a lot in common, although the way they think is diametrically opposite.

Alternattiva Demokratika, born some 20 years ago, and Azzjoni Nazzjonali, set up only last year, are both seeking to break the two-party state that has been in force for four decades. They both believe that winning a seat in Parliament would be a great victory as this would be tantamount to giving a voice to a minority of people who, they say, deserve to be represented in the country’s highest institution.

And they are doing their utmost to achieve this target. Both complain that they are not being given enough space on the media, in particular on the national broadcasting station, to put forward their message. Both think that if there is something on which the two major political parties agree, this is to keep the status quo, and they both want to upset the existing duopoly. Both also think that the way the electoral system works gives them a disadvantage because it is rather difficult for them to obtain a quota in just one district.

This is where the similarities end because the two sides share very little when it comes to the issues which they hold close to their heart. For one thing, AD concentrates mostly on environmental issues, and is always at the forefront when something is brewing in this particular sector. On the other hand, AN is mostly concerned with the way irregular migration is affecting the core of our society and one of its latest stunts was the holding of a meeting at Hal Far, where irregular migrants are kept.

Of course, both organisations speak on other matters that concern the country as a whole, and both show a direct interest in the economic affairs and the social issues that affect Malta. Still, the environment and irregular migration are respectively their stronger points.

Whether AD and AN will manage in their quest to break the deadlock is anyone’s guess. Both believe that they can, because otherwise they would just walk away. And the coming election could be their best – perhaps only? – chance to do so.

This is because the underlying factor of the coming election is that we have a party that has been in government for 19 of the last 21 years, and a party that in spite of being in opposition for so long has not managed to rejuvenate itself and offer better propositions. This is, at least, what both AD and AN would like to portray to the electorate.

By giving a vote to AD or AN, they both say, voters will be giving a breath of fresh air to Maltese politics – if this vote enables either or both to elect a representative in Parliament.

For AD, this will be the fifth national election that they will be contesting. Their best result was obtained in the first election in which they participated, with 1.69 per cent of the total votes obtained in 1992, a percentage that has steadily dwindled in each subsequent election to the 0.68 per cent obtained in 2003.

For AN, this will be the first experience, although leader Josie Muscat spent 20 years in Parliament under the Nationalist Party flag.

One point that needs to be mentioned is whether AD and AN will be spoiling each other’s chances to get one or more MPs elected. In the past four elections, all the people who wanted something new voted AD. Now, both AD and AN believe that the number of disgruntled people have increased because of the political situation mentioned earlier. With two smaller parties challenging the big guns, the likelihood is that the “dissenting” votes will be more or less divided between the two, effectively reducing the possibility of election for both AD and AN.

And perhaps this is another thing that the PN and MLP agree with.