Charlot Zahra
Azzjoni Nazzjonali’s dismal result yesterday brought a disappointing end to the right-wing party’s campaign, firmly built on an anti-immigration platform. AN was seeing no improvement over the 0.6% they got in 2008.
AN secretary-general Wayne Hewitt was quick to admit that his party had not managed to take its status any further after last year’s result in the general elections.
“It looks disappointing, pretty much for all the small parties. I think it is unfortunate that many more people decided not to vote rather than seeing an alternative in the smaller parties,” Hewitt said.
“We have to yet to see what votes we may inherit, but we are not hopeful,” he added.
Mirroring the dismal results for all third parties, AN’s showing yesterday confirmed that the general protest vote of the 2009 European elections did not find any expression in other parties.
Hewitt expressed caution about early indications that far-rightist Norman Lowell had garnered a significant number of first preference votes – a surprise showing for the political outcast.
He was equally clueless about the future of Azzjoni Nazzjonali, whose two-year career so far had not produced any result of success.
“Next week we will hold an executive meeting and take a decision in the general assembly. We have to take note of this result and see what steps we will take with regards to the future of the party. We will listen to everybody’s ideas, and within two weeks we should have interpreted what these results mean to us.”
Hewitt added that it was clear that the general feeling in the country was that there was no interest in seeing third parties break the political mould.
“The general public is still too polarized, and they feel that if they don’t vote for the big parties, then they shouldn’t bother voting for the small parties. I think the real message the people can send is by voting for third parties. I don’t think abstaining is an option.”
Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below. Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.
Download front page in pdf file format
All the interviews from Reporter on MaltaToday's YouTube channel.
