I would like to recommend some recent reads on third parties in Malta, published in The Times of Malta (2), Lovin Malta, and The Maltese Herald:
Hermann Schiavone highlights the trade-off between stable governments and parliamentary pluralism, offering a possible way forward.
Lou Bondi argues that there is no guarantee that having three parties in parliament is better than having two. He also emphasizes the difference between activism and governance, even on "boring", yet important matters.
Sandra Gauci takes a realpolitik approach, stating that as things stand, small parties are more likely to succeed in local councils—something also I had written about. Evidence supports Gauci’s argument, and ADPD currently has two elected local councillors.
Mark Camilleri provides a concrete example of how a third party was recently elected to Parliament. I had given similar advice to Alternattiva Demokratika during the same elections. However, the outcome of this coalition in opposition is another (important) matter altogether.
Such deliberations, grounded in concrete evidence, are welcome.
I have also recently penned some reflections on small political parties in Malta.
