Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/820803
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 7 MAY 2017 15 Interview Times are tough for AD chairperson ARNOLD CASSOLA. Widely blamed (by Nationalists) for the recent collapse of coalition talks, the embattled Green Party leader is keen to air his side of the debate. Either way, AD is now 'be- tween the hammer and the anvil', so to speak... We always were... And the dynamics are quite paradoxical. As a party, AD aims to elect a candidate in this election. If it manages, and no party gains the 50%+1 necessitated by the Constitu- tion, we will be in a situation where no party can form a government... e party with the largest num- ber of votes still forms a gov- ernment, even if under the 50% threshold... Why so much pressure on AD with every election, then? Because, obviously AD takes votes from the traditional par- ties... So there isn't this great dan- ger that the 1987 amendment won't work if AD elects an MP? Wouldn't we have a hung parliament under those cir- cumstances? If we elect an MP and no party gets an absolute majority, then yes, that's different. According to the Constitution, nobody automatically forms a govern- ment. But why do you call that 'a hung parliament'? ere would be a coalition govern- ment, as happens in most of Europe... ah, but then, then they tell us we'd be 'blackmailing' other parties. Sorry, but with all due respect... we have a his- tory of seriousness. Even now, with so many people angry with us – that's why I wanted to clarify the press reports about the 'name'. We were open to any name; it was about strategy. e fact that we are contesting this election also means we are sav- ing a lot of votes. If we did not contest, you would only have the choice of 'Partit Nazzjonal- ista' and 'Partit Laburista'... ... what about PD? No, because PD is contesting on the PN ticket. All those who think there's going to be 'Or- ange' [on the ballot sheet], or photos, or logos... they're mis- taken. ere will be the logo of the PN, in blue, and the names of candidates in alphabetical order. Marlene Farrugia will take her place with all the oth- ers. en, in brackets, there will be a nickname. 'Tal-Orangjo'. It's like saying, 'In-Niksu' or 'Il- Fratell'. Whatever. OK, but for those thinking there will be a distinction: it's a list. e list will be: PL, in red; PN, blue... and AD, in black. Because we can't use our col- our, according to law. We are going to give the opportunity to those thousands of honest Maltese, who know, deep in their hearts, that we can't carry on with Joseph Muscat and this trio... and who want to show him they can't carry on; but who cannot bring themselves to... they don't feel comfortable giving their number 1 to the 'blue'; to the Nationalist Party. We are giving those people the opportunity to express their an- ger with Joseph Muscat, by vot- ing for us. And we don't have this tradition of fear when they see the AD logo; like you have, unfortunately, when people see the 'Torca' or the 'Maghduma' – depending which perspective you look from. ese people, from the day they were born, have been told that 'the others' are devils. ey're not 'devils', of course. ey are ordinary people. But unfortunately, this mentality exists... Last question: how realistical- ly do you rate AD's chances of winning a seat; and, seeing as coalitions can be formed after elections... how would you approach a scenario where a coalition could be formed with Labour? To be excluded out of hand, to be considered on certain conditions...? As to the first question: this is a difficult election... but on the other hand, though there are many angry people: like I said, I've received hundreds of insults each day... but [I also received messages from] a lot of sincere people: people who are genuinely in a dilemma; who are crying for the state of the country. ey feel the world is collapsing about their ears. at's why I say, look at the state Muscat's government has got us to... to these people, I sent private messages explain- ing, as I explained to you, why the coalition didn't happen. But electing a seat will be diffi- cult. Let us not forget, however, that the Maltese system allows for the 'Number 2' vote. And 3, and 4. So all those who will say: I have to give 1 to Labour, be- cause that's the way I am from birth'; and likewise, those who say the same thing about PN... and perhaps there are those of our voters who now feel this way. Today, they might feel they have to do the same. Fair enough. It's a dilemma that has split the country down the mid- dle, dividing families, etc. But let's not forget that the Number 2 can be given to AD as well. Our system is actually designed for that. While giving your 1 to your usual party, there is a system of vote-inheritance... it can be used to elect an AD MP without jeopardising the elec- tion. As for the coalition question: if AD elects an MP, and Joseph Muscat receives a mandate to form a government... he is not going to be exonerated from the magisterial enquiry. at is what will determine whether Joseph Muscat is at fault or not, with regard to Egrant. But the others – the trio – those are proven cases. is is not something we have discussed within the party; but my feeling is that, before even beginning any negotiations with Muscat... I would say, 'Show me a picture of Castille. It's this building here, right? On this side there's Merchants Street; on the other, St Paul's Street. Now: ALL this area, including those streets, are out of bounds for Konrad Mizzi, Keith Schembri and Bri- an Tonna. If you [Muscat] are thinking that any of those three can get even to the first step of the stairway to Castile... forget it. I, Arnold Cassola, will not be willing to discuss a coalition'. and the anvil