Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia on Thursday drew parallels between the killing of Raymond Caruana 33 years ago, and the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia two years ago.

"The two cases took place when our country was overcome by corruption, when there were people who thought that no one could stand up to them and when the Labour Party felt it would always win," he said at a PN activity commemorating Caruana's murder.

The ceremony was held outside the Gudja PN club, which was targeted by a gunman who opened fire with a machine gun at the facade. One of the bullets pierced a secondary door and hit Caruana, killing him instantly. Nobody has ever been charged with the murder.

Caruana's death changed the country. After December 5, 1986 the country would no longer tolerate political violence, intimidation and politicians who thought they were above the law, Dr Delia said. 

The Labour government of the time had been fighting the will of the people through lies and deception, as evidenced by the way Peter Paul Busuttil was framed for Caruana's shooting.

Delia said the country was now again going through a constitutional and institutional crisis. Daphne Caruana Galizia had been killed because of corruption, with the involvement of the Office of the Prime Minister.

But the country was waking up to the reality and realising what had been happening over the past six years. 

The government had taken control of the country's institutions, reducing the country to a hostage of a clique which took decisions in the interests of a few.

The people were demanding justice. But for justice to be done, and be seen to be done,

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat needed to step down immediately so that the country's reputation, its institutions and the rule of law could be rebuilt, Delia said.