Adrian Delia is part of the solution for unity within the party, Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said on Sunday.

Grech was being interviewed on Net TV by Andrew Azzopardi.

Asked about the PN having, in the past, called for Joseph Muscat to be kicked out from politics yet at the same time have not done the same for Adrian Delia, who had contact with Yorgen Fenech after it was known that he was the owner of 17 Black, Grech hopes that "we are not comparing Muscat to Delia. People know what Muscat was and what damage he caused to the country. There are reports showing the extent of the damage that occurred under Muscat's government, and the corruption. Muscat was voted as most corrupt politician in the world. Delia was the leader of the party, and yes there were allegations about him. I invited him to work together, he met it. I will give him a shadowing so that he would also have an important role in the Parliamentary Group, and I am convinced that Delia is part of the solution for unity in the party."

Pressed on the issue, Grech said that allegations came out when Delia was leader, and that he will monitor what is happening and what comes out and will see from there.

He expressed his hope that Delia's followers will remain a part of the party.

Grech recently said that disciplinary action will be used against those within the party who misuse social media.

Asked whether this would mean that he would sanction his MPs, he said "everyone will have the freedom to express themselves, but we must understand that when we are part of a team, part of a party, we don't only have our personal interests but also those of the party to think about. When referring to what is written, I refer to all nationalists and activists not just MPs. Everyone is free to speak, but all that we say and write has a weight, and the weight should do good not bad. "

He said that he is not telling people not to speak. "I will invite people to be able to hold that discussion inside the PN. This was not happening and this is where we need to start."

Turning to recent surveys, he said that he is pleased to not the positive movement in the party's standing, but said that this is only the start.

Grech was also asked about the controvercial management deal signed by the FKNK and the Government over Mizieb and l-Ahrax. Azzopardi asked: "Will you take back the land to give it to the people"?

Grech criticised the government for trying to hide the deal, and to create a fight between the FKNK and the general public.

""he balance we need to find is that everyone can enjoy public land. Mizieb is 3.5 times larger than Buskett and L-Ahrax 2.5 times larger than Buskett.  We know hunters go there to hunt, but know that a number of others go for recreation, to walk , enjoy nature. "

"Hiding things creates suspicion.  Government signed the contract to avoid public scrutiny," he said, adding that it should be made to pass through Parliamentary scrutiny so that everyone can be heard.  

On the pre-budget document, homelessness not mentioned, loneliness not mentioned, women were also not really mentioned., Azzopardi noted, asking about this situation.

"The first thing we need to do is strengthen economy. We cannot have any type of intervention to help such people without strengthening the economy.  We know that the country is, unfortunately, passing through an economic and health crisis."

He slammed the government for basing the economy on quantity and consumption, adding that they built an economy on sand which is now being affected as the tides come in.

He said that the PN wants to extend the Wage Supplement until March, and urged that a masterplan for the economy be created and that the government not manage the economy by crisis.

He said that people lost hours of work, showing on books as being employed but with low take home pay. 

The PN's document, he said, includes over 100 proposals

"We also need a strategy for Gozo, as the only strategy seems to be to employ people with government."

On women in parliament, and quotas, he was asked for his opinion on the quota issue.

He said that as a point of principle he believes women have the capability to succeed on their own, mentioning the changes to the judiciary as one prime example. He said however that in politics, he believes this push is needed to kickstart the engine.

Asked about the recent Venice Commission report, and the laws implemented by the government, he said that there are those who are suffering due to the laws introduced, and that these laws were made to be introduced due to government corruption.  "So these people are paying for government corruption." As an example, he said laws for financial operators became so restrictive that some have had to close shop.

"The laws are necessary because the government destroyed our reputation, and they are being implemented to fix the damage done over the past seven years."

Asked for his position on migration, he stressed the need for a national conference on migration and population, stating that Prime Minister Robert Abela is trying to create fear through migration.

Grech said that everyone should feel safe in their homes, but also mentioned that migrants invited to the country by the government for work purposes have driven down salaries. "There is no doubt that they do a good job, but we need this conference to see and understand the difficulties we have."