Cassola warns of ‘morality crisis' in Maltese politics

Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Arnold Cassola let fly at Labour and PN politicians, accusing them of sacrificing values and morals for votes and financial gains. 

"Everything is up for sale - from hospitals, to the coast to citizenship," he told the Green Party's annual general meeting.

"On the contrary, AD's policies are based on improving the quality of life for the poor, pensioners, people with disabilities, and workers with meagre salaries and allowances."

Only around 15 people attended the party's AGM, including AD officials and former AD leader Michael Briguglio.

However, Cassola took heart in his belief that the electorate acknowledges AD's "consistency and intellectual honesty".

"That in itself is not enough to guarantee electoral success, and competition for votes will only become harsher as other people set up new parties."

He later told MaltaToday that AD is ready to collaborate with other fledgling parties, including a new centre-left party floated by independent MP Marlene Farrugia, but that the party will not compromise on its pro-environment, pro-Europe, pro-good governance, pro-civil rights and anti-racist stances.

“However, Marlene Farrugia’s plans are still in their early stages, and there is nothing concrete on the table yet,” he said. “ We need to know what we are dealing with first.”

In his speech, Cassola said that the people feel the need for a third party to be represented in Parliament, arguing that both Labour and PN have shown that they preach one thing when in Opposition but act differently once in government.

"Political credibility can only be earned through consistency, and AD has been consistent throughout  - from our criticism of the Armier boathouses to our insistence that ODZ land should not be built up. We never promise what we cannot deliver, but look the electorate in the eye and speak clearly about where we stand."

In his speech, Cassola hit out at politicians from both major parties - from the Panamagate scandal, to allegations that economy minister Chris Cardona was living in a Portomaso apartment free of charge, to former finance minister Tonio Fenech flown on a private jet to watch an Arsenal football match, to works allegedly carried out for free on PN deputy leader Mario de Marco's house.

“Whenever I hire a plumber, he demands to be paid on the spot and not delay payment for five years,” he said of De Marco, who paid Redmap Constructions last month for works that had started in 2011.

However, the AD leader saved his greatest scorn for energy minister Konrad Mizzi and OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri, who have been revealed to own offshore companies in Panama.

“It is unlikely to go away anytime soon, and is set to escalate when the full list of companies involved are published in early May. There are 42 Maltese names in the list, and it would be interesting to find out whether any of them are businessmen who benefitted from government contracts or tenders.”

He urged the Prime Minister to sack the duo, warning that European countries will not look kindly at their presence in high positions when Malta takes up the EU Council presidency next year.

Cassola, whose party chose not to attend two recent anti-corruption protests organised by the PN, threw his weight behind a civil society protest set for 7 May that will call for the resignations of Mizzi and Schembri.

“Civil society will make its voice heard, that enough is enough and that righteousness must triumph.”