Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/688389
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 5 JUNE 2016 3 MIRIAM DALLI THE former Labour MP Marlene Farrugia yesterday unveiled her new political party after having turned her back on Labour to take up her seat as an independ- ent candidate in the House of Representatives. In a statement sent by email to all media houses, Farrugia launched the Democratic Party, which is to be registered with the Electoral Commission in the coming days. The party has chosen orange as its official colour, and has already declared it will fight the "gigantic political parties' machines". "They will attack us and deni- grate us with all their power. It won't matter. Our principle aim will be to create a national group built on the qualities of a society that makes us proud." Farrugia listed herself as a 'tem- porary leader' of the DP, and introduced familiar names like hydrologist Marco Cremona as secretary-general, medical doc- tor Anthony Buttigieg as deputy leader, engineer Duncan Bonnici as treasurer, and a former Green Party committee member, Mo- nique Agius, as the party's public relations officer. All roles are temporary until a statute is approved and members can nominate and elect the par- ty's leadership. In the statement, the new po- litical party said Malta was in an "unprecedented position" and that the time was ripe for a new political voice in the country. "We are a group of people who are answering the country's call against tribalism and the tradi- tional parties," it said. The party described itself as having been born from "amongst the citizenry", and that the coun- try "yearned for the eradication of wrong practices that have be- come part and parcel of the coun- try's politics." "A new political force is re- quired, led by people whose suc- cess is the result of their own work and sacrifices and not by jumping on some political band- wagon, which opened for them one door after the other whilst, other people, had to be disci- plined and work hard to achieve similar results." Malta's electoral system has been unkind to third parties since the 1970s saw the Labour Party and the Nationalist Party only occupying the House of Repre- sentatives. Both parties have al- ternated power ever since Inde- pendence. Only the Green Party – Alternattiva Demokratika – re- cently managed a 27-year stint since its founding, but has never polled above 1.7%, its highest vote count received in 2013. The DP said it understood what the electorate wanted from poli- ticians and that it would strive to meet those aspirations. "We will be there to give back and not to take; to serve and not to be served. Above all, we will be there to safeguard the national inter- est." A general meeting is took place during which the statute will be launched. The temporary leader- ship will then resign, allowing the members to nominate their rep- resentatives. An election for the party roles will be held. All party members will have voting rights. News Marlene's 'orange revolution' takes life with new Democratic Party The outspoken MP Marlene Farrugia will be representing the Democratic Party in Parliament. Photo: Ray Attard 'We are scientists' Monique Agius, 26, is a university student who was fomer candidate for green party Alternattiva Demokratika. She has campaigned with Front Harsien ODZ as well as the Civil Society Network. She will be the acting PRO for the Partit Demokratiku Marco Cremona, 47, is a hydrologist who has been associated mainly with Malta's burgeoning water scarcity problem. His political foray is unexpected but Cremona has never shied away from making his voice heard on several issues. He is acting secretary- general Duncan Bonnici, a computer engineer for a private IT company, is not known in political or activists' circles. He will be the PD's acting treasurer Medical doctor Anthony Buttigieg, 54, will be Marlene Farrugia's deputy leader. Not a familiar name, the St James Hospital doctor will be propelled into centre-stage once Marlene Farrugia takes the PD soapbox around the island. It was an off-the-cuff comment from Marlene Farrugia, who said she had recruited a band of scientists to join her in her new political adventure. But it's true - the orange army has some pedigree in the sciences.