ACDP responds to DA debacle and a “NNP/ ANC Alliance”

Louis Green MP – ACDP

Wednesday, October 31, 2001


African Christian Democratic Party MP and Western Cape Provincial Leader, Louis Green after hearing Gerald Morkel’s public pledge of allegiance to the Democratic Alliance today, said that his advice for the future of the DA would be that, only a principled opposition, with a good understanding of their principles and policies, which must be radically different from that of the ruling party, makes for a much stronger and lasting opposition. “Uniting the voters to oppose the ANC, is not a good enough reason to form an opposition”, he said.

“The NNP/ DP alliance was destined for disaster from the very beginning. Two parties from opposing backgrounds and with very different visions, have no hope of a future together. The DA was formed with sole purpose of being an opposition to the ruling party. No common principles or policy join the member parties of the DA.”

Mr Green also accused the New National Party, under the leadership of Marthinus van Schalkwyk, of playing political musical chairs. Mr Green said, “The ACDP is of the view that a united political programme based on strong principles and policies, will have a more lasting affect than playing political musical chairs. Through these recent weeks the NNP have displayed their lack of principled leadership.”

In a statement on the proposed NNP/ ANC ‘alliance’, Mr Green said, “The NNP has made its intentions known that it desires to form a co-operative arrangement / government in the Western Cape and at local government level with the ANC, where it is possible. The question must be raised, on what principles or policies will this ‘alliance’ or co-operative government be based? Is it only a matter of replacing the existing DP MEC’s and executives with ones of the new NNP/ANC ‘alliance’, without giving content to the principles and policies of the new political arrangement?”

Mr Green said, ”What matters in politics are principles and policies and it is this, and nothing else that will ensure a lasting relationship and strong leadership.” According to Mr Green these two elements for success in politics are sorely lacking in both the DA and the proposed NNP/ ANC ‘alliance’.


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For more information please all Louis Green M.P. at 0834419295 or ACDP Media Liaison Liza Bloemetje at 082 4781037