The Nationalist Party is aiming to get three MEPs elected in the upcoming EU Parliament elections, PN Leader Bernard Grech said during an interview on Sunday.

Grech was being interviewed on party media, when he said that the PN is also aiming to regain the majority in more localities in the local council elections.

During the interview, he was also asked about the reshuffle of his shadow cabinet that took place on Saturday.

"I saw what I could do to have a more effective group. The changes were not made because someone was unfit, but to utilize their talents better. I am proud and satisfied that I met with everyone in just four hours, and there was an extensive, harmonious reshuffle. Others took 12 hours to move little around," Grech said, referring to the Prime Minister's Cabinet reshuffle a week prior.

Grech said that Adrian Delia was given the health portfolio to continue working on the health sector, after the party's win in bringing back the three hospitals to the public.

He said that the PN is focused on being an alternative government.

Grech was asked for the PN's position on e-scooters, following a question mentioning the sacking of former Minister Aaron Farrugia from Cabinet.

"E-scooters are another mode of mobility and of addressing the country's traffic problem, but this government managed to destroy good ideas, like it did with blockchain and cryptocurrency, where government failed," Grech said, adding that government always does things without a plan.

He said that the government did not carry out the enforcement needed, nor did it create parking zones for these e-scooters.

"When the PN is in government, we will do what is right from the beginning, enforce as needed, and not resort to removing a problem instead of solving it," Grech said.

On solving the traffic situation, Grech said that aside from a more effective road network, what the PN will not do is close multiple roads at once for works.

He said that the PN would see to it that there is a system which registers when a road is closed.

Grech said that people are frustrated, and part of the problem is that roads are not even registered when they are closed.

He mentioned the road going to Ghajn Tuffieha in Mellieha, which is causing frustration to residents and tourists. Grech said that the PN would reduce the number of cars on the road by giving a sum of money to a family which gives up their vehicle, and refrains from purchasing another for a number of years.

He also said that witnesses or anyone related to a court case should have their case heard in their own locality, rather than adding on to the hundreds and thousands of people going to court in Valletta. Grech accused Abela of not giving more opportunities for teleworking, especially after the pandemic, and said that the PN sees this as a priority.

The PN Leader confirmed that Abela has not yet called for him to start discussions on who the upcoming President of Malta should be.

He said that the President must be elected via two-thirds majority, and that there should be consensus that the President is one who everyone approves of, to continue representing the people.

"There are only a few weeks before President George Vella finishes his term, and discussions have not started. It is very important for this to start," Grech said. He refused, however, to name any contenders the PN believes should be president.

Asked if he would accept Helena Dalli as President, Grech said that it is premature to speak on the matter, but he does have a strong opinion.

He was asked about Archbishop Charles Scicluna's comments on the Opposition in the Times of Malta last week, where Scicluna had said that the Opposition lacked effectiveness, and must be more vociferous.

Asked about this, Grech said that as leader, he believes in 'this' style of leadership - where it is vociferous, militant if needed, goes to the streets and Court, and discusses privately when needed.

"Let us respect the style of leadership. It was the PN that got back the hospitals, it was the PN that convinced the Prime Minister to set off a public inquiry into Jean Paul Sofia's death," Grech said, adding that it is the PN's mission to present itself as an alternative government.

"A political party is not born to remain in opposition, it is born to govern, and we will continue being the alternative government," he continued.

He was asked about the PN's obligation to present an audited financial report.

Grech said that the party's accounts are a "non-issue" and the PN's companies are currently undergoing an auditing process, which will be presented once completed.

"We have always followed the law, and we will continue to do so," Grech said.

Grech was asked which of the two parties is truly working in the public's interests, as they both claim they do, on the Vitals/Steward matter.

"This is a simple answer. It is not a question of which side is working in the public's interest. The Court of Appeal said, in black and white, that government, that is supposed to defend the public's interests, were more interested in defending those who stole from the country," Grech said.

He reiterated that if it was not for the PN, the hospitals would not have returned to the public. Apart from the judicial protests, Grech said that the PN went to Court once again, to push for the State Advocate to stop being controlled by the Prime Minister, and bring back the €400 million from Steward.

Grech was asked about the resignation of educators, union's strikes as well as ongoing directives at University and MCAST.

He said that in MCAST's case, government did not want to sit down with workers who had the right to negotiate their financial package following an expired collective agreement from two years ago.

Grech said that tablets and laptops promised to students were also not given, and said that Robert Abela's biggest certificate of failure is that youths in the country want to leave.

On mental health, Grech said that Minister Chris Fearne had entered as Health Minister, finished his term as health Minister, and is leaving the local political scene, yet there are no plans of where to build the long-promised mental health hospital. He said that the PN will address this holistically.

He was asked about a high number of foreign workers in the country, where he said that the problem is not the amount of foreigners, nor where they come from, but that the population is growing in an unplanned manner, ultimately hurting the entire population, even foreigners.

Grech said that the PN will be the one addressing overpopulation by creating new economic sectors which attract quality workers.