Democratic Party (Malta)
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Democratic Party
Partit Demokratiku |
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|---|---|
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| Abbreviation | PD |
| Leader | Vacant |
| Deputy Leader | Vacant |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Ideology | Social democracy |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| National affiliation | Forza Nazzjonali |
| Colours | Orange |
| House of Representatives |
2 / 67
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| European Parliament |
0 / 6
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| Website | |
| www |
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The Democratic Party (Maltese: Partit Demokratiku, PD) is a centre-leftpolitical party in Malta. The PD was founded in 2016 by Marlene Farrugia, who previously sat as an MP for the Labour Party before leaving the party and sitting as an independent MP. Announcing the new party in June 2016, Farrugia as interim leader stated that the party was a new alternative to the traditionally dominant Labour and Nationalist parties. On 21 October 2016, Farrugia was elected the first leader of the PD at a general meeting to confirm the party executive. The party was formally registered with the Electoral Commission in November 2016.
Farrugia stated in January 2017 that the PD was "close" to forming a deal with the opposition Nationalist Party where the two parties would cooperate against the Labour government, though she did not specify if such a deal would be a formal coalition. On 7 April 2017 Farrugia confirmed in an interview with the Times of Malta that PD candidates would be listed as Nationalist Party candidates on the ballot for the 2017 general election. Despite reaching agreement about running candidates under the same banner, formal coalition negotiations remained ongoing until the announcement of a formal agreement on 28 April. Under the agreement, PD candidates contested the 2017 election with their party affiliation listed as Nationalist "tal-oranġjo" (the orange ones) and any PD candidates elected to Parliament would have been part of a Nationalist-led government.
Both Marlene Farrugia and Godfrey Farrugia were the only Democratic Party candidates to be elected in 2017, making them the first elected Members of Parliament from a third party since 1962.
Marlene Farrugia formally resigned from the Leadership of the Partit Demokratiku on 21 August 2017.
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