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Democratic Alternative (Malta)
Encyclopedia
The Democratic Alternative is a Green
political party
in Malta
, particularly dedicated to environmentalism
.
President Toni Abela and former Labour MP
and Parliamentary whip Wenzu Mintoff joined a number of environmental activists to form the new political party. Abela and Mintoff had resigned their posts in protest to the presence of certain elements in the Labour Party tainted with political violence
and corruption
. For this Abela and Mintoff were expelled from the Labour Party. Mintoff retained his seat in Parliament and, between 1989 and 1992 was effectively an MP for the new party as well as its first Chairperson.
Democratic Alternative first stood for national elections in 1992 when it obtained 1.69% of first preference votes (their best result so far in a general election) and no seats. In the subsequent elections of 1996 and 1998 the Party's share of the vote declined. Following the 1998 result, Abela and Mintoff resigned and returned to the Labour Party (Abela was to be elected Labour's Deputy Leader in 2008).
Harry Vassallo
replaced Mintoff as Chairperson of the Party in 1998. In 2003 the party campaigned for a Yes vote in the referendum on membership
in the European Union
but the declining trend in general elections continued and in election that year the Party obtained only 0.7% of first preference votes. 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 the Maltese general election
of 2008, the party increased its share of the vote to 1.31%. After ten years at the helm, Vassallo
resigned as Chairperson and was replaced by Cassola
. Barely a year later Cassola handed his resignation following the Party's poor showing at the European Parliament Election
in June 2009. Cassola was replaced by Michael Briguglio
in October 2009.
Democratic Alternative holds a seat in the local council
of Attard
. As of November 2009, there were 537 members.
Green politics
Green politics is a political ideology that aims for the creation of an ecologically sustainable society rooted in environmentalism, social liberalism, and grassroots democracy...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Malta
Politics of Malta
The politics of Malta takes place within a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Malta is the constitutional head of state. Executive Authority is vested in the President of Malta with the general direction and control of the Government of Malta...
, particularly dedicated to environmentalism
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
.
History
Democratic Alternative was founded in 1989 when former Malta Labour PartyMalta Labour Party
The Labour Party is, along with the Nationalist Party, one of two major contemporary political parties in Malta. It is the party of opposition in the Maltese House of Representatives where it has thirty-four of the sixty-nine seats.- Party Structure :...
President Toni Abela and former Labour MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
and Parliamentary whip Wenzu Mintoff joined a number of environmental activists to form the new political party. Abela and Mintoff had resigned their posts in protest to the presence of certain elements in the Labour Party tainted with political violence
Political violence
Political violence is a common means used by people and governments around the world to achieve political goals. Many groups and individuals believe that their political systems will never respond to their political demands. As a result they believe that violence is not only justified but also...
and corruption
Corruption
Corruption usually refers to spiritual or moral impurity.Corruption may also refer to:* Corruption , an American crime film* Corruption , a British horror film...
. For this Abela and Mintoff were expelled from the Labour Party. Mintoff retained his seat in Parliament and, between 1989 and 1992 was effectively an MP for the new party as well as its first Chairperson.
Democratic Alternative first stood for national elections in 1992 when it obtained 1.69% of first preference votes (their best result so far in a general election) and no seats. In the subsequent elections of 1996 and 1998 the Party's share of the vote declined. Following the 1998 result, Abela and Mintoff resigned and returned to the Labour Party (Abela was to be elected Labour's Deputy Leader in 2008).
Harry Vassallo
Harry Vassallo
Harry Vassallo was the Chaiperson of the Maltese Green Party political party, Alternattiva Demokratika from 1998 till 2008. He was succeeded by Prof...
replaced Mintoff as Chairperson of the Party in 1998. In 2003 the party campaigned for a Yes vote in the referendum on membership
Maltese European Union membership referendum, 2003
The 2003 Maltese European Union membership referendum took place on Saturday, 8 March 2003 to decide whether Malta should join the European Union . A narrow majority voted in favour of joining but the opposition Labour Party rejected the result of the referendum...
in the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
but the declining trend in general elections continued and in election that year the Party obtained only 0.7% of first preference votes. In 2004 the party obtained a remarkable result in the European Parliament election
European Parliament election, 2004 (Malta)
The European Parliament election of 2004 in Malta was the election of MEP representing Malta constituency for the 2004–2009 term of the European Parliament. It was part of the wider 2004 European election. The vote took place on June 13 and used Single Transferable Vote...
with 9.33% of first preference votes cast and the party's candidate, Arnold Cassola
Arnold Cassola
Arnold Cassola is a Maltese politician, an Associate Professor in Comparative Literature at the University of Malta and the author and editor of various books and academic papers. He has held elective office and political posts in Malta, Italy and at a European level.- Maltese politics :Cassola was...
narrowly failing to be elected as MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
.
In the Maltese general election
Maltese general election, 2008
The latest Maltese general election for the renewal of the House of Representatives of Malta was held on March 8, 2008. The incumbent ruling party the Christian democratic Nationalist Party, led by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, narrowly won over the social democratic Malta Labour Party led by...
of 2008, the party increased its share of the vote to 1.31%. After ten years at the helm, Vassallo
Harry Vassallo
Harry Vassallo was the Chaiperson of the Maltese Green Party political party, Alternattiva Demokratika from 1998 till 2008. He was succeeded by Prof...
resigned as Chairperson and was replaced by Cassola
Arnold Cassola
Arnold Cassola is a Maltese politician, an Associate Professor in Comparative Literature at the University of Malta and the author and editor of various books and academic papers. He has held elective office and political posts in Malta, Italy and at a European level.- Maltese politics :Cassola was...
. Barely a year later Cassola handed his resignation following the Party's poor showing at the European Parliament Election
European Parliament election, 2009 (Malta)
The European Parliament election of 2009 in Malta was the election of the delegation from Malta to the European Parliament in 2009. The elections were held on June 6 on the same day as the Maltese local council elections, 2009....
in June 2009. Cassola was replaced by Michael Briguglio
Michael Briguglio
Michael Briguglio is a Maltese sociologist, politician, drummer and activist, currently chairperson of the Democratic Alternative and its spokesperson for Economy and Finance.-Political:...
in October 2009.
Democratic Alternative holds a seat in the local council
Local councils of Malta
Since 1993, Malta has been subdivided into 68 local councils or localities . These form the most basic form of local government and there are no intermediate levels between it and the national level...
of Attard
Attard
Ħ'Attard is a village located at the centre-most point of the island of Malta. Together with Balzan and Lija it forms part of "the Three Villages" and has been inhabited since the Classical Period. Ħ'Attard's traditional Latin motto is Florigera rosis halo due to its many flower gardens and citrus...
. As of November 2009, there were 537 members.
Chairs
- Wenzu Mintoff 1989-1998
- Harry VassalloHarry VassalloHarry Vassallo was the Chaiperson of the Maltese Green Party political party, Alternattiva Demokratika from 1998 till 2008. He was succeeded by Prof...
1998-2008 - Arnold CassolaArnold CassolaArnold Cassola is a Maltese politician, an Associate Professor in Comparative Literature at the University of Malta and the author and editor of various books and academic papers. He has held elective office and political posts in Malta, Italy and at a European level.- Maltese politics :Cassola was...
2008-2009 - Michael BriguglioMichael BriguglioMichael Briguglio is a Maltese sociologist, politician, drummer and activist, currently chairperson of the Democratic Alternative and its spokesperson for Economy and Finance.-Political:...
2009-