The country is where it is today in terms of the Daphne Caruana Galizia case as a result of the pressure placed by the Nationalist Party and civil society groups, PN leader Bernard Grech said on Thursday.
Grech was addressing a press conference in response to what was said by Prime Minister Robert Abela earlier in the day.
Grech began by saying that Abela’s persistence in taking credit for the police investigations shows that the institutions are being tampered with in their work to seek justice.
Grech then added: “We have arrived where we are today not with the help of the government, but because of the constant pressure we as an opposition as well as the civil society put.”
With a metaphorical noose around the government’s head due to the reputation of the country, the opposition has the duty of doing what is right as stated by the constitution, Grech said. “The work of the opposition has to be done both publicly and in parliament, […] the murder investigation will be closed when justice is done to all those involved in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia”.
Grech then explained that Malta’s institutions will only work without the involvement of politicians. If it was not for the obstruction of investigations which occurred during former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s administration, there would not have been a three-year wait for a breakthrough in the investigation to occur, he said.
Rosianne Cutajar resignation: 'Robert Abela failed another test'
During the press conference Grech then shifted focus on Labour MP Rosianne Cutajar and her resignation as Parliamentary Secretary.
“Rosianne’s resignation shows that Abela has failed another test”, Grech said as he reminded of the mistake that Muscat had made by not relinquishing Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri from their roles when they were under investigation.
Grech said that while Abela is saying that the institutions are working, Abela cannot get his own office to work in doing the right thing and requesting Cutajar’s resignation the moment he knew about the alleged unethical decisions taken by Cutajar.
Grech then went on to explain that under a PN government the legal system will be improved and politicians will not be anywhere near the institutions. “In order for the institutions to really work, there is no place for politicians near them”, Grech said.
The main aim for the opposition is to clean up the reputation of the country and also to return the country to a state of normality.
The press conference then concluded with questions from the attending journalists.
While answering the questions, Grech reminded everyone that Abela taking credit for the work carried out by the Malta Police force is a mistake and a clear sign that obstructions by politicians in the institutions are still happening. Grech then said that he has full faith in police commissioner Angelo Gafa even though his work is being thwarted.
“The work of the police cannot be taken out of context. After 3 years the police have made progress in the case even though they do not fancy the full support of the government”
When asked about former PN Leader Adrian Delia and why he has not resigned considering he also had a relationship with Yorgen Fenech, Grech said that if there were any unethical activity between Delia and Fenech, Grech said that he would have no problem in taking the decision which is best for the party.