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6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 24 APRIL 2019 NEWS ANALYSIS JAMES DEBONO THE last minute candidature of former Labour Minister Godfrey Farrugia on the Dem- ocratic Party's list may well be a reaction to the party's repeated failure to register in the polls and a final attempt to gain traction in an increasing- ly crowded third party field. For in clear defiance of polls showing third parties failing to leave their mark in the race, 2019 seems destined to see the highest number of third party and independent candidates (17) contesting an MEP elec- tion ever up from 9 in 2014, 11 in 2009 and only 6 in 2004. In this crowded field which also includes far right can- didates, the PD is in direct competition with the left leaning Greens and with in- dependent candidate Arnold Cassola, with all three 'forma- tions' proclaiming their green credentials and issuing similar statements on issues like the proposed Gozo tunnel which all three oppose. The risk is that this frag- mentation will only serve to strengthen the hold of the two major parties on Maltese poli- tics. But the PD's hopes also hinge on harnessing support among disgruntled PN voters who shun party leader Adrian Delia and still identify in his predecessor's Forza Nazzjon- ali outfit. Perhaps Farrugia may still be hoping that a chunk of the 35% of PN voters in 2017 who are currently undecided or in- tent on not voting may end up voting for him. But even here competition is intense, as party heavy weights including three former party leaders having rallied behind the candidature of the embat- tled David Casa, who judging by the latest polls is at risk of not being elected. Moreover even Arnold Cas- sola is making a pitch to these voters, judging by the names of his nominees which in- cluded Maryanne Lauri an en- dorser of the Forza Nazzjonali in 2017. In fact Cassola who left the Greens over their readiness to discuss abortion, may well be targeting the same constitu- ency targeted by the PD whose leaders have pandered to the pro-life lobby in the past. While in the 2017 the PD managed to take a free ride on the PN by inserting itself in the PN's block vote and winning two seats in the process thanks to vote transfers, this time round the PD is running on its own steam and risks facing the same obstacles AD has faced in all elections since its inception. Legitimising its two seats With election of a PD MEP Godfrey Farrugia's gamble In a last minute move the Democratic Party has fielded its own leader and parliamentary representative Godfrey Farrugia as a candidate in MEP elections due next month. Why is he taking such a gamble when polls are showing the party is not making any inroads? asks James Debono Perhaps Farrugia may still be hoping that a chunk of the 35% of PN voters in 2017 who are currently undecided or intent on not voting may end up voting for him

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