Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/823173
maltatoday, FRIDAY, 12 MAY 2017 News 10 Former Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson 'offers resignation' MATTHEW VELLA MICHAEL Briguglio, the for- mer chairperson of Alternat- tiva Demokratika, the Green Party, has said he "offered his resignation" from the party he once helmed, ostensibly over his choice to campaign for the PN-PD coalition. In a Facebook post, Briguglio, an AD councillor for Sliema, re- affirmed his wish to campaign for the PN-PD "national force", having already appeared by PN leader Simon Busuttil's side during party rallies. He said that the coalition was "the only possible way to remove the Panama gang from power... [the coalition] is also proposing some great progressive policies. My only interest in the whole matter is to live in a normal Eu- ropean country," in a reference to the offshore companies scan- dal that has engulfed the Labour leadership. AD chairperson Arnold Cas- sola told The Malta Independ- ent on Wednesday that party members should follow the de- cisions of the party executive, in a reminder of the fraught relationship the leadership has had with Briguglio, a seasoned campaigner with an independ- ent streak who gravitated from Moviment Graffitti to the Green Party. "Obviously we don't agree with him on this," he said. "We need to attract as many votes as possi- ble and support those who don't agree with the Prime Minister's inaction on Minister Konrad Mizzi and the prime Minister's Chief of Staff Keith Schembri." Cassola has insisted that AD needs to offer an alternative for those who do not feel comfort- able voting for candidates on the PN list. The party refused to join the PN's 'coalition' – which will be hosting PD candidates on its own ballot sheet – after the par- ty refused to campaign under a new name and logo that would represent all parties. "What Michael Briguglio needs to understand is that he is an individual and likes to voice his opinion as such," Cas- sola said. "In the party we have a democratic process, an ex- ecutive and we discuss different opinions. But when one's opin- ion is not in line with the wishes of the majority in the party, that individual still needs to reflect the views of the party." Cassola said Briguglio was free to say what he wants personally "but he cannot overrule the de- cisions taken by the executive." In a Facebook post, Briguglio used the example of the for- mer Green leader Danny Cohn Bendit in France, who publicly supported centrist candidate Emanuel Macron and not the socialists, who were supported by the Greens in the recent French presidential election. "When I appeal to AD to join the coalition I am also reflect- ing the opinion of a number of members, ex-members, ex-can- didates and green sympathisers who are constantly commu- nicating with me about their preoccupation with Malta's current situation. In any case, I recently offered my resignation as AD member. This will be my final post on AD and the elec- tions. I respect their decision not to join the coalition but I disagree with it." Briguglio has said he will not contest the elections this year. In 2013, AD registered its best ever showing with 1.8% of the vote with Briguglio as chairper- son. Greens lambast BA 'servant of PL and PN' over conference schedule THE Broadcasting Author- ity has confirmed that it is totally excluding Alternat- tiva Demokratika and smaller parties from TV debates dur- ing the electoral campaign while the PN and PL will have four debates between them and a press conference each. Alternattiva Demokratika, chairperson. Arnold Cas- sola, said: "The Broadcasting Authority, with half of the members nominated by PN and the other half by PL, is showing that it is there only to accommodate the two big- ger parties. This, despite the fact they already own a TV and radio station each, that transmit political propaganda 24 hours a day." Cassola said that the BA had "lost all sense of dignity, and will therefore not allow the Maltese people to listen to and compare the different views of the different parties." The BA schedule will pro- vide two conferences of 60 minutes each with five jour- nalists asking questions to party representatives. There will be four other po- litical debates between two Labour and PN representa- tives, and one debate between the Prime Minister and the Opposition leader. The PL and the PN will each be given a total of 120 min- utes of political spots and 20 minutes only for each other party contesting in the elec- tion. Independent candidates will get five minutes. A final message of three minutes from party leaders will also be granted. The BA said that press con- ferences with Labour Party representatives will have journalists from TVM, Net TV, The Malta Independent, il-Mument, and Church ra- dio RTK, while the PN rep- resentatives will be faced by TVM, One TV, MaltaToday, the Times, and Union Print. Birzebbuga Local Council Dar Birzebbuga Triq Santa Marija Birzebbuga BBG1651 Tel: 21650165 Fax:21650444 BIRŻEBBUĠA Email: birzebbuga.lc@gov.mt The Birżebbuga Local Council notifies that during its next Council meeting, scheduled for Monday 22nd May 2017, it shall be discussing the following bye-law: - Use of Facilities (Birzebbuga Local Council) - Activities in Sand Pitch in Pretty Bay (Birzebbuga Local Council) He general public is being informed that a copy of the mentioned bye-law will be made available at the Local Council's Offices which shall be receiving any suggestions/complaints up till Friday 19th May 2017. Svetlick Flores Executive Secretary Arnold Cassola said that the Broadcasting Authority had "lost all sense of dignity Michael Briguglio with PN leader Simon Busuttil on May Day