Greens hit out at ‘irrational, anti-democratic’ Labour over Floriana mayor

Alternattiva Demokratika has come out in support of Floriana's independent mayor Nigel Holland after he obtained the support of two PN councillors to be re-elected mayor, despite obtaining the lowest number of votes in the council elections.

Labour has hit at out the coalition, saying that it was robbed of the mayorship after winning a relative majority in the five-man council.

Carmel Cacopardo, AD deputy chairperson, said that contrary to what had been implied in comments by Labour, Nigel Holland has the support of three, including Holland himself, out of the five elected councillors who together enjoy the support of the absolute majority of voters.

"Nigel Holland's team is a coalition which was necessary as no political party succeeded in obtaining on its own the support of an absolute majority of voters. It is very damaging for democracy at a local level for the Labour Party to expect to lead on the strength of its two elected local councillors who polled 49.51% of the votes cast.

"The coalition formed polled 50.49%, an absolute majority of the votes cast."

Cacopardo said that if Labour wanted to be involved in the running of Floriana it should have endeavoured to conclude a coalition agreement.

Labour has accused the Nationalist councillors of "having used democracy for their own convenience", attacking the government over the Floriana council meeting that elected Holland as mayor yesterday.

Labour's local councillors' section secretary Mario Fava said that during the meeting, the two PN councillors backed independent councillor Nigel Holland to become mayor. "To reciprocate the favour, Holland then voted for a PN councillor to be elected as deputy mayor."

Labour has two councillors in the Floriana council, but failed to achieve an absolute majority or agreement over the election of a new leader.

After a number of inconclusive meetings, Labour councillor Davina Sammut Hili was appointed as interim mayor for a three-month period in the absence of an agreement. She was appointed as the first councillor to be elected for the party having received the largest share of votes, in line with the directives of the Department of Local Government.

In March, Floriana residents elected two Labour councillors, two Nationalist councillors and the outgoing mayor and independent candidate Nigel Holland. In total, Labour received 654 votes, the PN obtained 485 votes and Holland obtained 182 votes.