Former KSU President Carl Grech today was the first to address the national rally against corruption today and said that it was essentially unacceptable that two senior government figures owned holdings in Panama. He was followed by lawyer Arthur Galea Salomone and independent MP Marlene Farrugia.

He told the massive crowd that Castille Square is a symbol of democracy. “One the one side we have the Prime Minister’s office and on the other we have parliament. But although it symbolises democracy, democracy itself has been rocked. We are waiting for the Prime Minister to take action,” he said.

He said that this is the second time in eight months that the people of Malta have taken to the streets to protest about corruption. “ It is not acceptable for people to have secret companies in Panama. Nothing has been said and even worse than that, the government is mocking people’s intelligence,” he said.

Dr Grech continued: “Today we are here to make it clear to the Prime Minister. This is not acceptable, it not acceptable for the PM to stay silent.”

He said that when the Panama Papers broke last Sunday, rapid action was taken. People took to the streets in protest. “Within two days, the Iceland PM resigned and the Ukraine’s President is facing impeachment. Yet Minister Konrad Mizzi and the PM’s Chief of Staff are still there. Two people who wanted to open accounts in Dubai.”

“It gets worse. Today news reports from Australia revealed that Dr Mizzi and Keith Schembri started the process to acquire the companies only five days after the last election. Shame on you,” he said, the crowd picking up on Dr Mizzi’s very own chant that has come back to haunt him.

He said that Dr Mizzi was the only EU Minister to be found in possession of such accounts. “This scandal is damaging Malta’s reputation around the world. It has already had a negative impact. It is also a risk to our livelihoods,” he said.

“We cannot forget what the issue at stake is here. It’s secrecy. Why would a government minister and a very senior government figure need to open secret companies in Panama?”

He said that both Dr Mizzi and Mr Schembri know that the public has doubts about them and are suspicious of their motives. “Their positions are not tenable, they need to leave now!” The crowd followed up with chants of “Barra!” after which Dr Grech concluded: “And if the PM thinks his wingmen have done nothing wrong, then he can leave as well.”

Do not defend the indefensible - Arthur Galea Salomone

Lawyer Arthur Galea Salomone was the second to speak: “Our financial services sector is the envy of the world. It offers opportunities for work, and employs 9,000 which brings growth to our economy. The Panama scandal has brought more financial services scrutiny than there has ever been before. This has necessitated action.”

“But friends, we are not bringing the respectability of the financial services sector which it deserves. It is through action that the Prime Minister can convince the country of his seriousness. One cannot promote serious professionals and on the other hand be caught out in such a scandal,” he said.

Dr Galea Salomone continued: “He cannot drag his feet any longer, he has the responsibility of representing us so he cannot continue dragging his feet. Unequivocal facts have been revealed regarding the secret financial structures of a Minister which the Prime Minister has continued to defend. They tried to placate us with an audit, but an audit cannot measure the gravity of the scandal.”

He continued: “Our country is going through a revolution. We are seriously risking our financial services sector which we have worked so hard to maintain. I urge politicians from both sides of the House to be on the right side of history.”

He said that  public sentiment is clear. “Where are the promises of transparency, good governance and accountability you called for prior to the last general election? Do not continue to defend that which is indefensible; do not excuse what is not excusable. We expect, without further delay and further irreparable damange, action to be taken for the good of our country,” he concluded. 

When Malta calls on me - I shout 'I am here!'

Independent MP Marlene Farrugia addressed the crowd before Simon Busuttil took the main stage and said that while people told her that she would be a voice in the wilderness, she did not feel that way. This is the second time that Dr Farrugia has taken part in an event organised by the Nationalist Party after the protest against the American Institute of Education in Zonqor.

“But I do not feel alone. On my left, I have the patriot Manwel Dimech, and before me, I have you, the people of Malta and Gozo. When Malta called for me, I answered: “I am here, just as you are!”

Dr Farrugia said that she was present when Malta needed her in the 1980s when democracy was under threat. “And I am here again,” she said. Dr Farrugia said that the government says Malta is changing. “It is. And we want it to change, but not for worse, we want Malta to change for the better,” she said.

Dr Farrugia said that some people asked her what corruption was, with a blank face. “Corruption does have a face. It has the face of a mother who needs cancer medication and has to beg for help to get handouts from the Community Chest fund.

“Corruption has the face of wardens who are given quotas every day and are told to dish out tickets. Where does the money go? Does it go somewhere that does not see the light of day?” she asked.

She spoke about the PN and said that people say that it too was corrupt. “Yes, but we gave them the answer at the polls. The PN is changing, and it has to change and continue changing,” she said.

She also said that while the government keeps harping on about its track record in the economy, this too was owed to 25 years of Nationalist administration.  She said that while it is good to have a strong economy, the wealth it generates needs to be distributed fairly.

She concluded: “When Malta calls on us, we will shout ‘We are here!’”