In 1998 I was asked to attend a political meeting in which PN candidate George Pullicino was to address a number of activists. Alfred Sant had just dissolved Parliament and called a snap election. It was a critical time in Malta’s political history because EU membership would be back on the table if the Nationalist Party were returned to government. In that meeting, George delivered what I considered (and still consider) to be a remarkable speech. He explained to his activists the importance of having EU membership back on track. He very rightly stated that the most important reason for joining the EU, apart from the obvious economic benefits, was that he wanted to live in a country in which even his children would not be afraid voting for the Opposition. Malta’s future would be under guarantee in the EU – the politics of fear would end once and for all. It was a noble speech, one I could really feel attuned to. In a hall of some 300 people, there were only two people who applauded his brave statement; his wife and I. I voted PN and Malta was on track to enter the EU.

Five years later came the referendum in which the decision on EU membership was held. I cast my “yes’ verdict and followed that a month later with a first preference vote for Joe Borg in the general election. I did so with some guilt, because on the eve of the eve of the election, the leader of the PN had very coarsely dumped Alternattiva Demokratika, that had so bravely stood by the government during the referendum campaign and had even ditched its own electoral prospects by asking for a second preference vote. I was overcome by fear and did not even have the courage to cast a “2” for AD.

In 2004 the European Parliament Elections were held. Encouraged by (now departed) Julian Manduca, I decided to help Arnold Cassola in his election campaign. It was my tiny act of redemption for not having given AD any preference whatsoever in 2003. I worked hard throughout the campaign, but had no intention of getting involved on a long-term basis in politics. What got me to commit to the Greens was the vile accusation made by both Simon Busuttil and Tonio Borg during the campaign to tarnish Arnold Cassola with the issue of abortion; an issue I knew AD was clearly against. I could never believe that a party I had supported ever since the 1992 election could use such base tactics to tarnish the reputation of its political rivals. I grew up naively believing that it was Labour that used such tactics.

It is 2008 and we are days away from a general election. The Nationalist Party has not changed. They are once again running a fear campaign against AD. They still make the most arrogant of claims that the people’s vote belongs to them. A vote that is not for the PN is a wasted vote. The PN use (and abuse) their own media, State media and hoards of “independent” columnists to scare people away from a free vote, rather than convince people to vote on the basis of their own proposals. One columnist admitted he is voting with a gun pointed at his head, another claims that AD is a danger to the country. How European.

Labour hasn’t changed either. They have built a campaign based on capricious mud slinging, and don’t even seem able to promote their own proposals. They will not convince anyone, apart from the party hard core, that their surcharge proposal is simply outrageous. They did not even recognise that the PN’s proposed tax cut will not cost E46 million, but E125 million. They are more concerned about a donation of E20,000 to a tennis club – mud sticks. When you are campaigning on dirt you miss the really important issues. They pursue their pot dream of building three gold courses - Dom Perignon Socialism.

Alternattiva Demokratika will take all the scaremongering on TV, in the papers as well as in cyberspace, in its stride. We don’t engage the PN’s dogs of war. We are running a positive campaign in which we explain our proposals and communicate our willingness to give this country a coalition government. Those who have a personal interest in preserving the status quo will fabricate every sort of lie and half-truth to scare people, claiming that a coalition is impossible even when the Prime Minister contradicts them and only says that it is “not an issue”.

In the second week of March, Malta and Gozo may get a taste of coalition politics; the brand of politics that runs 22 out of the 27 countries in the European Union. It will not be Harry Vassallo, Alfred Sant or Lawrence Gonzi who will decide whether our country moves towards this. It will be you.

Edward Fenech is an Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party candidate.

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