Former Alternattiva Demookratika Chairman Michael Birguglio has no intention of running for the next general election under the blue flag of the Nationalist Party. The Malta Independent approached Dr Briguglio following his speech on Sunday at the national protest against corruption in Valletta, which was organised by the Nationalist Party.

PN Leader Simon Busuttil once more asked Marlene Farrugia, leader of Partit Demokratiku to speak before the thousands who attended the event. Michael Birguglio also received a similar invitation and accepted the offer.

“I did not do this for partisan politics. I just felt that I had to stand up and be counted,” he explained, in comments to this newspaper.

“I am a political sociologist, and will do my part in the electoral campaign and speak up when needed, give my opinion, but I don’t intend to contest the election. I don’t believe that is my role.”

Dr Briguglio said that he was always very vocal over the whole Panama Papers scandal and Malta’s involvement through Minister Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri. “This was not the first time I attended a protest against corruption. The last time I attended was the one we organised as the Civil Society Network. Back then, we were already calling for resignations.”

“When the protest was announced, I immediately posted on Facebook and Twitter that I intended to take part. I felt that this is a question of national importance. So when Simon Busuttil asked me if I would be willing to address the crowd I accepted.”

He said that things were already terrible a year ago when the scandal broke out. “In truth, even if this whole Egrant business never emerged, the public should have still protested because the Prime Minister did nothing to solve the matter. In my opinion, actually, I believe Konrad Mizzi was given a promotion.”

Looking back at the events which unfolded these last couple of days, including the Police Commissioner eating rabbit in Mgarr instead of leading an investigation, Mr Briguglio said these are “terrible things.”

“If you had to include all of what has happened in a movie, the public would have said it’s exaggerated. It’s a case where fact is stranger than fiction.”

“There comes a time in life when you cannot stand on a balcony, observing without doing anything.”

The former AD Chairman said that in the past he had already been approached by the PN to address protests. “I had so far never accepted, but this latest news was just the cherry on the cake. These scandals have been taking so long and the Prime Minister does nothing. It’s very worrying.”

He said that such scandals cause a lot of stress to the public. “The Prime Minister should realise that this is causing a lot of stress. During these past days I just could not carry on with my work, as if it was business as usual. Everyone is literally sitting in front of the television sets or mobile phones watching as things unfold. This insecurity is only causing harm.”

“I would have attended the protest even if it was organised by any other entity. It’s as simple as that,” he added. “If the cause is something which I consider important, I will participate as I did with protests organised by the GWU or for the Morning After Pill.”

The protest held on Sunday attracted large crowds and Simon Busuttil announced the birth of a Forza Nazzjonali, or National Force. However, Nationalist Party Leader Simon Busuttil told The Malta Independent yesterday that the PN will run as the PN, not Forza Nazzjonali, for the general election. He excluded the notion that after Sunday’s protest the coalition will run under the brand Forza Nazzjonali.