This morning, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson Prof. Arnold Cassola, accompanied by Deputy Chairpersons Mario Mallia and Stephen Cachia met the leadership of the Malta Labour Party at MLP headquarters in Hamrun. Labour’s delegation was led by Dr. Joseph Muscat who was joined by Deputy Leaders Dr. Toni Abela and Dr. Anglu Farrugia and Secretary General Jason Micallef.
The delegations from the two parties discussed the current crises in the prices of food and oil. They expressed their concern on how the sharp rise in prices is effecting wage earners. The parties also had an exchange of ideas about how the surcharge mechanism can be applied in a more fair way, as AD had proposed in its manifesto, where those who use electricity in a responsible way are rewarded. Currently the surcharge rate is applied evenly across the board irrespective of consumption of energy.
The two parties agreed that their should be continuous dialogue on issues of national importance, especially those affecting people’s quality of life. Continuous social dialogue was the way forward – when ideas are shared and discussed solutions are better and fairer. Both parties agreed that arrogance and ‘my way or the highway’ politics had no place in a modern democracy.
Prof. Cassola said that as a sign of goodwill government should initiate discussions leading to a wide national consensus on the election by parliament of the next President of the Republic. Dr. Muscat said that the MLP is open to discussion on the issue and said that the next President need not be a politician.
Dr. Muscat and Dr. Cassola mentioned issues on which both AD and MLP shared common ground, namely the importance of social dialogue and both parties’ active interest in improving each and every citizen’s quality of life. They spoke of their experience working at the centre of EU institiutions and said that their experience helped them form a vision of politics based on dialogue, cooperation and exchange of ideas.
Other issues discussed were the importance of transparency in party financing and tackling abuse in public administration through instuments such as the Whistleblower Act.