ADPD has presented its electoral manifesto, which includes a wide range of proposals that impact directly on citizens’ rights such as constitutional changes and clean politics, economy, environment, waste and transport, education,health, sexual and reproductive rights, immigration and unique issues pertaining to Gozo.
The party said it is “not a manifesto of Father Christmas promises but primarily a vision laying out a road map to be followed.”
Carmel Cacopardo said that “the broom has been chosen the main symbol of this campaign because it is the cleaner’s tool. That of the sweeper, a humble worker that cleans after our mess. Parliament and its members should be the political sweepers, keeping politics clean, safeguarding its integrity and above all not shying away to take the necessary timely decisions.”
Cacopardo mentioned how the news have been dominated with wrongful acts by ministers and other public figures over the past months and years. Decisive action was lacking, or taken after a lot of procrastination.
“It is a well know fact that accountability, transparency and ethics in public life are being hindered by the close connections between political power and business concerns. It is not only ADPD that has been saying this for a long time but the ever-increasing voice of
civil society has led to these issues being given the attention they deserve. The Inquiry Commission investigated the circumstances into the death of Daphne Caruana Galizia also confirmed this unsavoury link between politics and business and ADPD will continue to insist that the Inquiry’s recommendations will be implemented in full and without delay.”
“Accountability, transparency and ethics in public life will remain a blot on public life in Malta unless the necessary action is taken. We need a Parliament that is capable and willing to analyse and decide. We need Members of Parliament of integrity, able to oversee continuously and consistently the public administration. We need institutions with character.” Therefore we need a Parliament that includes ADPD representatives from amongst the candidates being presented to the electorate in each district – candidates that like others are not in it for their personal gain or in the interests of others but for the service of all citizens."
With respect to ADPD’s proposal that the declaration of principle relating to the environment found in our Constitution would be able to be challenged in Court, Cacopardo explained that in line with what happens in other countries individual citizens and NGOs would be able to seek remedy so that should the government fail to take the necessary action on environmental issues, the Government – as the servant of the people – would be obliged to do so.
“Our agenda is to be of service to the whole community. Clean politics in public life. We want to be a political tool for renewal. Green broom to sweep clean. Politics that serve today while keeping an eye on the impact on tomorrow, ensuring that actions taken today do not deny future generations their right to take their own decisions."
“A broom does not only clean the trash but also removes the cobwebs that have sprung around an expired PLPN way of doing politics: from a policy without vision to one that looks forward to day when this is centred towards the needs of each individual – rejecting the winner takes all mentality that tramples upon everyone to a policy that has everyone’s benefits at hear, concluded Cacopardo.
ADPD’s electoral manifesto can be downloaded here: www.ahdar.green