Democratic Alternative (Malta)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Alternattiva Demokratika | |
|---|---|
| Democratic Alternative | |
 |
|
| Leader | Harry Vassallo |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Headquarters | 10, Triq Manwel Dimech Sliema |
| Political Ideology | Green Party |
| International Affiliation | Global Greens |
| European Affiliation | European Greens |
| European Parliament Group | No member |
| Colours | Green politics |
| Website | www.alternattiva.org.mt |
| See also | Politics of Malta |
The Democratic Alternative (Alternattiva Demokratika) is a Green political party in Malta, particularly dedicated to ecology.
Alternattiva Demokratika was founded in 1989. Labour Party President Toni Abela and Labour MP and Parliamentary whip Wenzu Mintoff resigned their posts within the Malta Labour Party and joined a number of environmental activists to form the new Party. Both were expelled from the Labour Party with Mintoff retaining his seat.
Alternattiva Demokratika first stood for national elections in 1992 when it obtained 1.69% of first preferences (their best result so far) and no seats. In subsequent elections (1996, 1998, 2003) their share of the vote declined further, obtaining only 0.7% in 2003. Following the 1998 result, Abela and Mintoff quit the Party and returned to the Labour Party (Mintoff also ran, unsuccessfully, for the 2004 European Parliament elections on a Labour Party ticket).
In 2003 the Party campaigned for a Yes vote in the referendum on membership in the European Union.
In 2004 the Party obtained a remarkable result in the European Parliament election with 9.33% of first preference votes cast and the Party's candidate, Arnold Cassola narrowly failing to be elected as MEP.
In January 2006, the same Arnold Cassola accepted to contest the Italian general elections in April for the Federazione dei Verdi in the Unione Centre-Left coalition. He was elected in April by Italian expatriates in the European Constituency to the Italian Chamber of Deputies.
The Party holds a seat in each of the local councils of Sliema, Sannat and Swieqi.
Chairperson: Dr Harry Vassallo (since 1998)
