Opposition Leader Bernard Grech this week came up with the most undemocratic proposal one can come up with, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Sunday morning.

He was referring to the casual election won by Gavin Gulia, who resigned his Parliamentary seat soon after he was sworn in. The election was also contested by former Rabat mayor Charles Azzopardi, who has since become a PN lifelong member.

“The Opposition Leader asked someone who had contested on the Labour ticket to join the PN’s ranks. Someone who Labourites had voted for in the 2017 election. This was the most undemocratic proposal that one can come up with.”

This did not happen because the democratic electoral process “worked as it should,” Abela continued.

“The Opposition is now saying that the process we used that will lead to the co-option is anti-democratic. With the same reasoning, we have had two consecutive Opposition Leaders, Adrian Delia and Bernard Grech, who were elected to parliament in an undemocratic way.” He accused the PN of two weights, two measures.

“What is certain is that no one from the Opposition has congratulated Oliver Scicluna yet,” he continued, expressing his disappointment.

“We have given out a strong signal in favour of inclusion,” Abela said. “There will be more. I don’t see you only as an MP,” he told Scicluna, who was present at the activity. “I see you advancing further in your political career.”

This week was a test, Abela said. “I have often called for national unity on important issues, but our invitation was ignored. This should have been a moment free from pique.”

Abela spoke about the country’s economic achievements during the pandemic. “We went from horror predictions to helping the hardest hit sectors, saving jobs and reducing unemployment.”

Immigration is no longer something we’re speaking of, Abela continued, adding that many migrants had been relocated to other countries.

Malta obtained a record amount in EU funds and continued upgrading its road infrastructure. “Keep on going, and don’t let anyone discourage you,” he told Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg, who was also present at the Labour Party headquarters.

Thanks to government intervention, Malta experienced a record in property sales, the food supply remained stable during challenging times and new collective agreements were signed for different economic sectors.

Abela lashed out at Bernard Grech’s “lack of vision and decisiveness.”

“This prospective PM, when asked what he would do to tackle the pandemic, said he would be a fool if he showed his cards. What do you stand for?” Abela asked.

“You know where you stand with us, but the Opposition keeps refusing to say what its proposals are.”

Abela said he was against the attempt to close down political party television stations. On the other hand, the PN was saying one thing while those representing it in the European Parliament were acting in the opposite direction.

“We are honest and transparent in everything we do, and people appreciate that in us.”

Turning to the issue of reaching equality in Parliament, Abela remarked that only 13% of MPs are women. This has been consistent over the years. “We did not just talk about it, we acted. We have to change the laws to create the snowball effect. This time, the mechanism will help get more women in Parliament. There is nothing to keep it from correcting imbalances against men in the future. This change must happen.”

Those who get elected through this category will not be second-rate MPs, Abela continued.  

He then turned to euthanasia, saying he does not yet have a position on the matter.

“I understand the position expressed by Daniel Micallef (PL President), who recently lost his father. But I also look at the experience I had recently of a friend who was very sick with Covid-19 and who, according to doctors, had no chance of surviving. Today he has recovered and is back with his family. This is what we do. We discuss and analyse and then we decide.”

Speaking earlier, Oliver Scicluna, who will be co-opted to Parliament after Gavin Gulia’s surprise resignation, said politics is about serving the people. “For me, politics have always been about improving people’s lives.”

He promised to use all of his energy to help people of all political leanings, to help the Labour Party and the country. “I will tell the party where there is room for improvement. I will act according to my conscience to do what I feel is good.”

He spoke about his condition, which he was born with, and about how his parents and family decided to take the long hard road to raise and support him, rather than the easy way out.

Scicluna, who is the Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with a Disability, spoke about the challenges he and other people like him face. It is pointless for the state to raise pensions for the elderly and persons with a disability if the way society treats them does not change, he said.