[WATCH] Arnold Cassola files MEP candidature

Arnold Cassola has formally submitted his nomination as an independent candidate for the European Parliament elections.

The ex-Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson was nominated by former European Court of Human Rights judge Giovanni Bonello, writer Oliver Friggieri, psychologist Mary Anne Lauri and artist Debbie Caruana Dingli.

In comments to MaltaToday after filing his candidature, Cassola said he was honoured to receive the four personalities’ backing.

“I am very honoured to have had these four persons of national relevance having shown their faith in me by nominating me for the European Parliament elections. They are people who have given a lot to Malta in the human rights, culture and literature, arts and ethics arenas,” he said.

In terms of his main aims if elected, Cassola said he would be working to use European Union laws and funds to the benefit of Malta’s best interest.

“Unfortunately there are several cases in Malta where EU laws are being ignored, starting from the Gozo tunnel project, of which we know nothing, despite there being an EU obligation - through the Aarhus Convention - that any [environmental] study has to be published and discussed in public before the project is decided upon,” Cassola highlighted.

“The government is ignoring all this and breaking EU laws. If elected, I would strive to fight this abuse,” he added.

In February, Cassola resigned from AD - a party he had been a founding member of - following a disagreement with AD MEP candidate Mina Tolu after she called for a "safe place" to discuss abortion. He subsequently had announced he would be running as an independent candidate in May's European elections.