Democratic Alternative (Malta)

Democratic Alternative (AD), also known as Alternattiva Demokratika (AD), was a Green political party in Malta. It advocated for environmental protection, social justice, and sustainable development. Founded in 1989, AD was the first Maltese party to explicitly embrace green politics.

The party generally held progressive positions on social issues, supporting LGBT rights, secularism, and drug policy reform. Economically, AD favored policies that promoted social equity and ecological sustainability, such as green taxes, investment in renewable energy, and a more regulated financial sector.

Although AD never secured a seat in the Maltese Parliament in a general election, its presence significantly influenced the political discourse, particularly regarding environmental concerns. It achieved representation in local councils and in the European Parliament, with Arnold Cassola serving as an MEP from 2004 to 2009.

In 2020, Democratic Alternative merged with the Democratic Party (Partit Demokratiku) to form a new party called AD+PD, or Alternattiva Demokratika + Partit Demokratiku. This marked the end of Democratic Alternative as a separate political entity. The merger aimed to consolidate progressive forces in Maltese politics.