Heard the one about AD? Have you received an email about what they’re up to? Listened in to the whispering campaign? Sat in on the spin? Well here’s to putting the record straight and stopping the spin and scaremongering. Here, we try and clarify the situation so you may vote freely for the political party of your choice having all the facts at your disposal. We do facts not fiction, sincerity not spin.
They say that a vote for AD is a vote for the MLP. Is this true?
Incorrect. This statement is based on the assumption that all the people who vote for AD have previously voted for PN. This is very far from the truth. AD’s potential voting pool comes from a wide variety of sources. There is a core Green vote consisting of people who have always voted for the Greens, new voters (over 17,000), people who have voted for the MLP and people who would not cast their vote if the Green Party was not contesting. By no stretch of the imagination can it be stated that every person who votes for AD intended to vote for the Nationalist party. In any case votes do not “belong” to any political party but to the voter who may use it as s/he pleases at different times.
They say that a vote for AD is a wasted vote.
Our voting system allows voters to ensure that their vote is not lost or wasted. By voting for AD and then continuing to vote for other candidates from other parties, one ensures that if the AD candidate is not elected, the second preference candidate will “inherit” his vote and has a chance of being elected. AD welcomes cross-party voting and encourages voters to give their 2nd or any subsequent preference to other favoured political parties. This would ensure that no vote is wasted.
They say that people vote AD to teach the PN a lesson. Is this true?
Voters vote the way they do for a variety of reasons. They vote for a party such as AD which has been consistent and honest regarding a number of issues such as its pro-EU stance, need for a culture change, environmental and economical improvements, civil rights and integrity in public dealings. If another party has not been consistent or credible about these issue it is natural that voters will not be inclined to vote for it. After all votes have to be earned and no party is automatically entitled to votes regardless of its performance in the 5 years between elections.
They say that it is impossible for AD to be elected to Parliament.
If approximately 2500 in one district vote for AD then it is very likely that AD will elect a member to Parliament. Considering that AD has been working very hard to explain and promote its vision for a coalition government for all the Maltese people, the prospects of this happening are very good.
They say that a coalition is impossible because of the recent changes to the electoral law.
A coalition government is possible when either of the major parties does not obtain an absolute majority (50% plus 1). In this case, and with AD having elected a representative/s, the party having a relative majority may link up with AD to form a coalition government.
They say that AD wants to form a coalition with the MLP?
AD will form a coalition with the major political party which agrees with its priorities for the country as published in AD’s manifesto. These points have been made public for the sake of transparency and public scrutiny and may be viewed on www.alternattiva.org.mt
They say that a coalition can’t be formed because Gonzi is not keen on the idea.
It is the electorate which decides whether a coalition should be formed. Politicians cannot ignore the sovereign wish of the people. If people have voted for AD to form a coalition government, dismissing this possibility is rather arrogant. If the people want an AD-PN coalition, then it would be very strange for a PN politician to discard this unique opportunity, preferring to have the MLP governing instead.
They say that AD criticises the PN only.
Over the years AD has criticised both the PN and the MLP if the major parties policies and actions are questionable. AD’s criticism of the MLP’s surcharge proposal is a case in point. Criticism should not be perceived as an attack and is necessary in a democratic society. Only despots try to crush out criticism. The PN has been in government for 21 years. It cannot expect to be above criticism and scrutiny.
They say that if AD is a coalition partner it will have a disproportionate amount of power and will render the government unstable.
It would be self-defeating for AD to hold its coalition partner to ransom and act unreasonably as this would translate into a certain defeat at the polls the next time round. There are many countries such as Ireland and Germany where coalition governments ensure representation of a greater part of the electorate and which are stable and efficient.
They say that it is better to try and effect change by working within a major party.
This has been proved incorrect throughout the last 20 years where a major party has reused to fall in line with EU standards, has refused to budge regarding spring hunting, has retained its discriminatory position on divorce for the rich, has refused to amend the unjust rent laws, has ignored questionable conduct by ministers and has condoned disastrous land use planning policies. There has been no impetus for change and there will be no incentive for major party reform if it is aware that you will vote for it again out of fear.
They say that a vote for the new candidates of either major party will bring about change anyway.
This is based on the shaky presumption that all the present underperforming ministers lose their seat and are replaced by newcomers. This is a highly improbable scenario. Voting for the same party which has allowed these ministers to get out of hand means that you are allowing it to happen again. A political party apologizing for its inaction or inability to change on the eve of the election is an admission of failure and a gimmick.
They are saying that a change of government might bring about withdrawal from the EU.
AD in a coalition government will resist all moves which are intended to undermine the electorate’s European aspirations.
Who are “they”?
You will notice that the anti-coalition brigade is mostly made up of persons who are linked to a major political party such as ex-ministers and chairmen of public corporation. Other commentators have business connections with major political parties and have a lot to lose if “their” party is not elected. These considerations should be kept in mind when weighing the credibility (or lack of it) of the obsessed anti-coalition brigade.
Waqt kampanja elettorali jkun hemm ħafna għidut dwar is-sistema elettorali. Jkun hawn min ixerred għidut apposta. Il-verita hi li jekk trid bidla vera fil-mentalita u bidla vera fis-sistema politika għandek tivvota Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party. B'hekk tkun żgur li l-messaġġ jasal, kif jgħidu bl-ingliż 'LOUD AND CLEAR'.
Lil min għandi nivvota?
Għal bidla veru, u biex ma tħallix lill-oħrajn jirromblaw minn fuqek, ivvota 1 lil Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party.
Nista' nivvota għal iżjed minn partit wieħed?
Iva u biex issarraf il-vot tiegħek kemm tiflaħ jaqbillek li tagħmel hekk.
X'inhu vot invalidu?
Vot li ma jkunx jgħodd. Fuq il-karta tal-vot jistgħu jinkitbu biss in-numri ta' preferenza u ma jista' jsir l-ebda ħażż jew kitba oħra.
Kif jaslu għall-kwota?
Il-kwota hi differenti f'kull distrett għaliex in-numru tal-voti mhix l-istess preċiż fit-tlettax il-distretti li huma. Bħalissa f'kull distrett jistgħu jiġu eletti ħames deputati u l-kwota tintlaħaq billi wieħed jaqsam in-numru ta' voti mitfugħa fil-kaxex bin-numru ta' postijiet għad-deputati u ieħor jiġifieri b'sitta, ħames postijiet u ieħor. Jiżdied daqs post ieħor minħabba l-fatt li l-votanti aktarx ma jivvutawx għall-kandidati kollha u b'hekk jinħlew ħafna voti hu u jsir l-għadd tal-voti.
X'jiġifieri meta jgħidu li kandidat ikun tela' bla kwota?
Minħabba li ħafna voti ma jkomplux sa l-aħħar, spiss jiġri li l-kwota ma tkunx tista' tintlaħaq minn ebda kandidat li jkun baqa'. Meta l-aħħar kandidat li jkun baqa' ma jkollux il-kwota xorta waħda jiġi elett u ngħidu li jkun tela' bla kwota. Bħalissa fil-parlament Malti hemm 11 il-deputat li telgħu mingħajr ma' laħqu l-kwota, Għalkemm dawn huma deputati tal-PN u ta' l-MLP, aktarx li d-deputati ta' Alternattiva Demokratika jiġu eletti b'dan il-mod fl-elezzjoni li jmiss. Aktarx li f'dawk id-distretti fejn ittella' deputat Alternattiva Demokratika, l-ewwel li jiġu eletti jkunu kandidati tal-partiti l-oħra. Għalhekk aktarx li Alternattiva Demokratika ittella l-ħames kandidat li jiġi elett fid-distrett u aktarx bla kwota minħabba l-ħela ta' voti mill-partiti l-oħra.
L-emendi li saru dan l-aħħar fis-sistema elettorali kif jaffettwaw lill-partiti ż-żgħar?
Fil-fatt l-emendi li saru jidħlu fis-seħħ jekk fil-parlament ikunu rappreżentati żewġ partiti biss. Għalhekk ma sar l-ebda tibdil li jaffettwa lill-partiti ż-żgħar direttament. Baqgħu preċiż jaħdmu bis-sistema li kien hemm qabel.
It-tibdil fis-sistema elettorali jippermetti li ssir tpattija b'żieda fis-siġġijiet fil-parlament skond l-ammont ta' voti li jikseb kull partit(jekk u meta jkun hemm eletti kandidati minn żewġ partiti biss). Qabel l-emendi kienet issir tpattija jekk partit ikun ġab iżjed voti mill-ieħor billi jingħata numru ta' siġġijiet fil-parlament biex ikollu siġġu wieħed iżjed mill-partit l-ieħor. Wara l-emendi jekk it-tpattija proporzjonali tkun titlob hekk, jista' jingħata anke iżjed minn siġġu wieħed.
Minn dan kollu xejn ma jgħodd għall-partiti ż-żgħar. Jekk ikollħom daqs kwota jew iżjed mxerrdin u ma jkunu tellgħu minn ebda distrett ma ssirx tpattija proporzjonali magħhom u ma jingħataw l-ebda siġġu fil-parlament. Jekk itellgħu deputat, dawn l-emendi ma jidħlux fis-seħħ u ma ssirilhomx tpattija biex iżidu d-deputati tagħhom skond in-numru ta' kwoti li jkunu kisbu mxerridn mat-tlettax il-distrett elettorali.
B'hekk inħolqu żewġ kwalitajiet ta' votanti: dawk li jivvuttaw PN jew MLP li magħhom tista' ssir tpattija jekk jitilgħu fil-parlament dawn iż-żewġ partit biss u l-votanti l-oħra li qatt ma ssir tpattija proporzjonali magħhom.
Jekk jitla' t-tielet partit fil-parlament x'jiġri? Jikkmanda waħdu jew ma jkollu saħħa ta' xejn?
Jiġri dak li dejjem jiġri f'kull parlament ieħor fl-Ewropa ħlief fir-Renju Unit. Jekk xi partit minnhom ikollu maġġoranza assoluta ta' deputati, jifforma gvern waħdu. U d-deputat/i ta' Alternattiva Demokratika jkunu fl-oppożizzjoni, jieħdu sehem fid-dibattiti jqajjmu l-kwistjonijiet li jolqtu li min ikun ivvutalhom u jagħmlu kritika lil-gvern b'aktar saħħa milli jistgħu jagħmlu minn barra l-parlament. Ikunu jistgħu ukoll jagħmlu mistoqsijiet parlamentari biex jiksbu tagħrif meħtieġ minnhom jew mill-votanti.
Jekk ma jkunx jista' jiġi ffurmat gvern mingħajr l-appoġġ ta' Alternattiva Demokratika isiru n-negozjati bejn il-partit u jitfassal programm ta' gvern maqbul bejniethom biex jitwettaq mill-gvern il-ġdid. Dan ikun gvern ta' koalizzjoni jekk ikun hemm Ministri fil-gvern ta' iżjed minn partit wieħed jew ikun gvern ta' minoranza jekk it-tielet partit ma jingħatax responsabbiltà ministerjali. F'kull każ il-partiti jkunu qablu dwar it-twettiq tal-wegħdiet elettorali tagħhom.
Alternattiva Demokratika tista' jagħti kontribut kbir billi tqajjem kwistjonijiet li l-partiti l-oħra jibżgħu isemmugħu għax jibżgħu minn xulxin. Insemmu biss il-prezz tal-proprjetà li Alternattiva Demokratika biss ipproponiet azzjoni li tista tittieħed biex tittaffa s-sitwazzjoni kemm b'riforma tal-liġi tal-kera kemm billi jiġu ntaxxati d-djar vojta kapriċċ. Fil-waqt li Alternattiva Demokratika tissaħħaħ jekk twettaq il-bidla meħtieġa. Il-partit imsieħeb magħha f'koalizzjoni li tant jibża' jitlef il-voti jista' jġib l-iskuża li ġie imġiegħel minn Alternattiva Demokratika u forsi ma jitlifx voti. L-iżjed ħaġa importanti tkun li l-politka ma tibqax staġnata f'kwistjonijiet ta' importanza nazzjonali.
Mix-xewqat għall-fatti
Hi x-xewqa ta' ħafna Maltin li jidħol it-tielet partit bejn l-MLP u l-PN fil-parlament u wisq aktar fil-gvern. Madankollu ma jafux kif din ix-xewqa jagħmluha realta. Filfatt Alternattiva Demokratika teħtieġ 2500 biss mill-madwar 23,000 f'kull distrett minnhom biex ittella' deputat. Bil-ħidma li saret tul ix-xhur li għaddew, f'xi distretti aktarx li din il-mira diġa intlaħqet billi l-AD kisbet l-appoġġ ta' numru kbir biżżejjed ta' votanti. Min irid jagħti sehmu biex din ix-xewqa jagħmilha realta kull m'għandu jagħmel hu li japoġġa lil Alternattiva Demokratika bil-vot tiegħu. Kulħadd jista' jivvutalna. Minn jgħoddna l-partit l-iżjed qrib il-ħsieb politku tiegħu jista jagħtina l-ewwel preferenza. Ħaddieħor li għandu xi prijorita oħra dejjem jista' jagħtina xi preferenza oħra.
Il-biża'
Min jibża' jagħtina l-ewwel preferenza minħabba li b'hekk ikun qiegħed igħin lil xi partit ieħor li ma jafdaħx jew li jibża' minnu, f'din l-elezzjoni irid iqis ċirkostanza importanti: l-Alternattiva Demokratika kibret. Ħadd ma jobsor li Alternattiva Demokratika ser tmur ħażin f'din l-elezzjoni. Kullħadd jobsor li ser iżżid sew fl-appoġġ li tikseb. L-Alternattiva Demokratika kisbet il-massa kritika fl-2004 meta vvutalha 23,000 ruħ. Illum biex tikseb 2,500 vot f'xi distrett minnhom ma tkunx xi ħaġa ta' l-għaġeb. Għalhekk is-sitwazzjoni ta' min jbża' inbidlet għal kollox. Il-biża' tiegħu għandha tkun oħra: dik li Alternattiva Demokratika ma ttellax deputat.
Jekk Alternattiva Demokratika ttella'deputat is-sistema li fasslu l-partit l-oħra ma tkunx tgħodd u għalhekk Alternattiva Demokratika tkun tista' ssarraf s-saħħa tagħha f'Malta kollha biex jiġi ffurmat gvern, ukoll permezz ta' deputat wieħed jew tnejn biss. Jekk Alternattiva Demokratika ma tellax deputat il-partiti l-oħra ftehmu li l-voti ta' l-AD ma jingħaddux meta jsir il-kejl ta' proporzjonalita bejniethom. Dan iżid u mhux inaqqas il-periklu ta' żbilanċ l-iżjed meta wieħed jgħodd li l-AD ser iżżid fl-appoġġ. Dan ifisser li hemm aktar periklu għall min hu maħkum mill-biża' jekk jonqos li jivvota jew li ikompli bil-vot fuq il-kandidati ta' l-AD milli jekk ma jivvotalhom xejn.
Biex il-biża tgħib u tispiċċa darba għal dejjem Alternattiva Demokratika trid ittella' deputati fil-parlament u tkompli tinfirex bejn il-partiti l-oħra fl-elezzjonijiet li jsiru 'l quddiem. Issa ż-żmien li nibdew intemmu l-biża' u niksbu għalina ġejjieni isbaħ, iżjed kalm u iżjed raġunat.