How long are we to remain with the situation of having only two parties in our parliament? How long are we to see the PN and MLP fight it out for the control of Castille? Isn’t it about time that we went for a third option, a breath of fresh air? Isn’t it about time that our country gets a coalition government?

These and other such half baked rhetorical arguments are the reasons which Alternattiva Demokratika presents to the Maltese electorate every time an election comes by to justify itself having a seat in the Maltese parliament. And perhaps many readers might be asking themselves, what on earth is wrong with AD having a seat in our parliament? Other countries have coalitions after all, so why not us?

The reasons for not having a coalition government are various and can be taken from a variety of angles. In reality however they boil down to one simple fact; are we willing to elect a blackmailer to our parliament? Are we willing to place this one political party in the position where it can dictate to us all whether Lawrence Gonzi or Alfred Sant is our next Prime Minister? Are we willing to place this one political party in the position where it can tell the rest of Malta’s political spectrum, my way or no way! Some of you might tell me, isn’t that what the PN and MLP have been doing since 1966 by means of one party governments?

The difference is simple however, Malta’s one party governments had a majority of votes; AD will gain this blackmail power with only a miniscule amount of votes, a miniscule amount which will none the less override the clear desire and mandate of the overwhelming majority.

And after all, what’s so tragic about having a blackmailer in our parliament? Pushing aside the fact that it goes against the very core of democracy of having the blackmailer wins-it-all situation; issues such as government stability are also to be considered.

Haven’t coalition governments worked in Germany however? Indeed, no doubt about it they have and will probably continue to do so. Unlike Malta however the two major political powers in Germany have more than one coalition option! CDU could choose to ally itself with the Socialists, the Greens or the Liberals. In Malta, the option would be much “simpler”, AD or bust!

If the true change which AD says it will bring in its billboards is that of having a government at the mercy of a Green blackmailer then that is one change I certainly do not wish to see, not now, not ever!

Angelo Micallef

Marsaxlokk