The President of the Republic should be given the powers to intervene when a Prime Minister becomes a tyrant, Opposition Leader Adrian Delia said on Sunday morning.
Speaking in Birkirkara, Delia said the PN was putting a number of proposals for the strengthening of democracy. These include measures to strengthen the Office of the President, Parliament and the Courts.
He paid tribute to former PM Eddie Fenech Adami, saying that his 80s slogan of ‘Xoghol, gustizzja u liberta` was still relevant today.
“The government sold us an illusion,” he said. “They premeditated the hijack of a party to hijack the government for the use of criminals. Bad became good, and they try to paint a rosy picture because of a surplus. But the repercussions are that the country’s foundations have been eroded.”
The successes which were brought about by the hard work of previous administrations can be lost as a result of the ongoing crisis, he said.
“The proposals we are putting forward do not only look at the needs of the party but of the country as a whole,” Delia continued.
“Without these pillars, the rule of law will collapse. You cannot have a country that is doing well economically but where there is no justice, or where the wealth is not reaching everyone because it is going to a few who are abusing the system.”
He said the Constitution is supposed to protect the citizens and give them guarantees when democracy is failing.
“We have to see that the President of the Republic is given greater powers to intervene when some in government abuse their power. The President said this week that the government was hijacked by a criminal gang. Why should he not have more powers to intervene, to decide, when this happens? When there is a Prime Minister who has become a tyrant, the President should have the power to intervene.”
Turning to Parliament, he said backbenchers have a duty to speak up when the government is wrong. “But this government perverted the system, gave them contracts paid for by you, so that they will not speak up.”
Most backbenchers have finally woken up and realized that the PN was right all along, he said.
“The entire world now knows that Muscat is a liability for the country. His position is no longer tenable. He was permitting, from his office, organized and institutional crime. A few days ago, his cabinet expressed full support in Muscat. They told him you have 42 days left in which you can do whatever you want, and we will follow you blindly.”
Delia said the government suspended Parliament so that Labour can cling on to power. “Labour abuses power,” he said, adding that changes are necessary to ensure that Parliament truly represents the best interests of the people.
He also attacked the judicial appointments system, saying that people expect justice from the courts. “The PN is proposing a system where judicial members are appointed in such a way that they have the trust of the public.”
He also criticized the Attorney General, Peter Grech, for failing to take action in cases of money laundering. The courts will decide on Monday whether the Egrant report will be published in full. “The AG, instead of publishing the document, is still in court trying to keep it hidden. This creates an imbalance of power in favour of the government. The AG is an accomplice to a criminal gang that has hijacked power in this country,” Delia charged.
He also accused the Police Commissioner, Laurence Cutajar, of failing the people. “If there is one thing that Chris Fearne and Robert Abela have agreed on, it is that they want to remove the commissioner. “Where were you in the past few years when we told you to remove him, that the people did not deserve him? You are not credible. You are not being truthful,” he said, addressing the two contenders for Labour leader.