In view of Oppositon Leader Simon Busuttil's declaration that politicians should stay out of the spring hunting debate because the decision rested on the will of the people in a referendum, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said: "Whilst it is clear that the spring hunting issue will be decided by the people in the referendum that they have asked and worked for, it is the duty of politicians to take a clear position and make their opinion clearly known to the people. Politicians are there to make their principles clearly known to one and all and to be clear about what they stand for. Sitting on the fence and keeping mum about important national issues is tantamount to admitting that politicians have abdicated from their responsibility to stand for values and principles."

Carmel Cacopardo, AD Deputy Chairperson, said that Alternattiva Demokratika has always been clear: for the past 25 years, since its foundation, it has campaigned for the need to cancel spring hunting from the statute book. Unfortunately, as a result of backroom deals between the hunting lobby and the Parliamentary Parties (PN and PL), Malta has ended up in the current mess, the exclusive and joint responsibility of the Nationalist Party  and the Labour Party. This mess can only be cleared up by a popular vote through an abrogative referendum in the coming months.