Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson and MEP candidate Arnold Cassola has said that, “During these past weeks it is becoming glaringly obvious that the rules of democracy and fairness are not one of this country’s forte. Let me explain. We at AD asked the Broadcasting Authority to be able to transmit a programme on a private TV station to explain our electoral programme and and candidates.”

Dr Cassola continued, “Just have a look at programmes on ONE TV and NET TV – their respective party’s MEP candidates are constantly given exposure and political programmes and adverts are aired constantly and continuously. All we asked for is the opportunity to have one or two programmes to promote the policies and campaign of our party, but incredibly and unfairly, the Broadcasting Authority, whose board is made up of people appointed by the PN and PL, while letting ONE TV and NET TV broadcast partisan programmes and political adverts ruled that AD cannot transmit programmes promoting its issues – it requested AD to ensure that any programme it pays for on a private TV station be ‘balanced’ – that is to give exposure for free to the PN and PL both of whom have their own partisan TV stations broadcasting propaganda continuously. The Boradcasting Authority is using two weights and two measures. The shameless, uncontrolled, one-sided propaganda on the PN and PL TV stations occurs nowhere in other EU countries.”

“Another issue which, a few weeks before the European Parliament election is still unresolved is the issue of how the sixth seat in the EP will be assigned. It is unacceptable that the rules of the game are not made public, discussed and decided yet. The governing party is abusing democracy – fairness and transparency are simply not high on the government’s agenda. The striking off of over 900 voters from the EP election electoral register also confirms that the concept of participation in the democratic process is still perceived as a privilege conceded from some authority or other rather than a right.”

“At first we gave the Electoral Commission the benefit of the doubt, saying that it might have made a mistake. Now the Electoral Commission is making those who were struck off the register go through bureaucratic procedures to be given their rights back. The Electoral Commission has broken not only local laws but also an EU Directive (Directive 93/106/EG), which is also part of Maltese law regarding European Parliament elections.”

Yvonne Ebejer Arqueros, AD MEP candidate expressed AD’s concern about the increase in unemployed over the previous three months of the year. She said that the market should accomodate the needs of people and families and not the other way round. “We need to promote policies which emphasize work-life balance. An AD MEP will support proposals for an EU-wide maternity leave entitlement. Tying economic policy with social policy is very important for us Greens.”

Michael Briguglio, AD spokesperson on social and economic development and Sliema local councillor Michael Briguglio, said that whilst AD supports Government’s efforts to protect existing jobs, Government should abandon policies which result in increased hardships for workers. “Many new job opportunities are not offering job security to workers due their precarious nature. Contractual and part-time jobs are often characterised by exploitative practices such as lack of various rights and lack of unionisation. This is affecting various categories of workers, including young, ageing, female workers and workers with family responsibilities.”

Permalink: What kind of a democracy do we have? – AD