Malta has changed in the eyes of the world after the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, Opposition Leader Adrian Delia said in Parliament today.

Parliament was meant to discuss the budgetary estimates of the Office of the Prime Minister, however discussions focussed on the brutal murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

"Malta was believed to be the safest country in the world with an excellent reputation. After last week it changed. It changed for Daphne Caruana Galizia's family, it changed for journalists, for citizens who do not feel safe in their homes and on Maltese roads, it changed for foreigners who are seeing the international news. We spent years working for the country to benefit from the sense that Malta is not just a country where one can and visit and work, but one where you can live. "

"The change we have seen is not the change we wanted. This change did not occur last Monday, but it visibly exploded on that day."

"We were building a perilous situation, where organised crime is strengthened, while the institutions who are meant to be there to fight criminality lost their strength."

"On Monday, the people awoke to the reality. After what happened, government keeps saying that the institutions are strong and that nobody should carry responsibility. I followed what happened and what the government representatives are saying."

He mentioned six bombs in two years, the murder of a journalist, the problems in the police corps etc. "For government, the most important thing is business as usual, that we continue from where we left off. This cannot remain the reigning factor in our country, that if there is a problem we throw money at it to solve it. This is was created such attitudes in the country."

He spoke of the importance of solving this crime, that is a political murder. We are not pointing the finger to a politician who sent the murderer. He quoted Matthew Caruana Galizia. "The police may or may not find out who ordered the assassination of our mother but as long as those who led the country to this point remain in place, none of it will matter - the name of the person who did this will remain a footnote in the history of how our state was dismantled, taken apart piece by piece and devoured by the criminal and the corrupt."

In order to describe the what he meant by political, he likened it to a father running a successful business, where he brings in his sons. He said that the father's friend warns the father that his son is doing drugs, starts meeting the wrong crowd, yet the father ignores the warnings. The son then dies. "Will the father keep saying that business is doing well after his son died? Did the father do well to forget the most important things while business is doing well? We must understand the responsibilities of those who lead the country, who must not only ensure that the economy does well, but must see what money and investment is coming in. It is not only about opening new banks, but it is about who owns those banks and who is behind them and why they opened and chose Malta."

"So can the Prime Minister always do everything himself? No but the decisions of who is appointed fall on him."

He spoke of the importance of security of the country. Justice and security must be at the forefront of all priorities of any government. He mentioned that when the PL was in Opposition, the PL voted to remove a minister, "not because a journalist was murdered, or the failure to investigate FIAU reports, but because of reasons that if you read today, one would either cry or laugh." He mentioned that the reason had to do with the lack of surveillance in Paceville and Swieqi.

"Today nobody wants to carry responsibility. The problem in Paceville is still there and has spread. The lack of security is felt by all of Malta, but for Joseph Muscat, all is well. We've had bombs in the middle of an Msida road, in Marsascala, in Armier etc. and all indications lead to organised crime, yet the police prosecuted nobody. The best resources were remove from the police. Some removed and some left because they were fed up."

He quoted an article previously published in the Malta Independent, which read that a total of 123 police officers resigned retired or began resignation process since January 1 2015. "Carmelo Abela said that these include 3 deputy commissioners, 4 assistant commissioners, 4 superintendents, 7 inspectors, 10 secont class sergeant majors, 16 sergeants, 68 constables, 9 female constable,s and one reserve constable. You dismantled the corps."

"The people today ask again why no serious investigations into the Panama Papers occurred."

He quoted the Archbishop, and said that he condemned the situation. "Every decision government is taking  is not in favour of transparency, but is creating culture of darkness, of hiding things." He mentioned position of trusts, and said that many of such appointments are unconstitutional. "Government is breaking the law according to the Ombudsman. Will government ignore him? I expect the Prime Minister to answer the Ombudsman. "

"We have an illegal government conducting illegal work, as said by the Ombudsman himself."

The Auditor General and the Ombudsman are the only ones in the light, he said, mentioning that they are appointed through a two-thirds Parliamentary majority. This is why, he said, the role of police commissioner and Attorney General should be appointed through such a manner.

"This government says it is a government that listens. Prime Minister, now you have the biggest test. Listen to the opposition that told you that you that responsibility must be carried, that the police commissioner and AG be removed and be appointed through a two-thirds majority.  Listen to the Chief Justice who told you that the rule of law is being threatened. Listen to the Archbshop who told you the country is not normal. Listen to Daphne Caruana Galizia, whose voice was so loud last Monday that she was heard across the globe. Listen to what local and foreign news outlets are saying and writing. Listen to civil society that has realised this is a historic moment, that it is not enough to write and speak, who took to the streets as they feel the need to do something and yell loud enough for the government to listen. Their call was 'Enough, we cannot keep living in a country that continues on this road.'"

"You must listen to the people today. The people are not telling you to pay them, to fill their pockets, to look at their personal interests. If ever there was a time for this government to listen, it is today. Listen to the people today who have one message, that political responsibility be carried, that they want a normal country. Listen to our country, that does not belong to any party, but belongs to the Maltese an Gozitans who are saying that they deserve better."

PD Leader Marlene Farrugia also came out with a harsh and strong criticism of government

PD MP Marlene Farrugia spoke of the appeal made by the Prime Minister and President for national unity yesterday. "We all want this, but it does not make sense to unite with what is wrong, and with what is causing many people to suffer, to unite with what resulted in the brutal murder of a mother and journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. We need those who believe in what is good, those who know how we can put the country on the right road and bring back its reputation, to join together to work and take the road to bring back honour to our country."

"Why was Daphne Caruana Galizia killed? Because somewhere there was complicity and incompetence, or both together."

She said that when elected in 2013, it quickly became apparent that there was a centralisation of power that was clear and tangible.

"Behind the PM there is a group of people who dictate the government's agenda." She mentioned the lack of contracts being published.

She mentioned the energy contracts and said that Caruana Galizia dug into it, mentioning the Azerbaijan being a player in these agreements.  "Why did the PM go to Azerbaijan without any civil servants or diplomats? Daphne Caruana Galizia investigated."

Turning to the hospital agreements, she said that Daphne Caruana Galizia also investigated them.

"There are many big companies whose interest it is in to keep this government in power."

She mentioned the time it took to seal off Pilatus Bank. "We saw the whistleblower in this case demonised to the point that she had to escape the country. She said she followed what Caruana Galizia told her, to leave."

"Why is the Egrant investigation taking so long, where are the investigation ns into your chief of staff? So when it is a normal person things occur fast, but you, who are still leading this country in the most opaque way with near to no transparency, your investigations taking months and you up until now, are still making use of the public assets as you see fit. "

"This country needs national unity eventually, but before that, this house should be cleaned. Those who do not work against corruption, who close their eyes, are accomplices. "

"Yes Prime Minister, President, there will be unity when incompetent or complicit politicians leave the house and the political scene, and instead of them I appeal for people who use politics to serve the nation, to serve the people, not to be served by the nation or to stuff their pocket, to take their place."