The current PL government is not capable, or does not want to do the right thing, despite the damage it has caused over the past few months, said Opposition leader Bernard Grech in an interview with NET News on the program Analiżi.

“The reality is that this government is a government of propaganda; that the Prime Minister loves painting a pretty picture to mask the fact that he has lost control of the governance of this country,” Grech said.

It has been six months since Malta was put on the FATF’s grey list and there has been no action taken to salvage the country’s reputation and give it the name it deserves, he said.

“Many have told us that Prime Minister Robert Abela does not consult with the public, including NGOs against the cannabis reform, representatives of nurses and teachers and the police force,” said Grech, adding that the government had six months to implement the necessary measures to remove the country from the grey list, yet had failed to do so.

The Nationalist Party on Saturday announced a package of 12 legislative bills aimed to implement the major findings of the public inquiry into the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia as well as to fight corruption. Grech emphasised that this problem needs to be taken seriously, especially by politicians who need to come together and improve their behaviour.

He accused the Labour Party of failing to believe in the work of journalists, highlighting that the party has always feared freedom of expression, and the principle that one has the right to be informed.

“The journalist is the pillar for the public who have the right to know the truth,” Grech noted.

The PN leader was prompted to answer a question about the need for more protection in society, as well as reforms for mental health, following last Sunday’s murder of a Polish woman in Sliema.

“We all have the responsibility of improving the country; we as citizens have the obligation to take care of each other and intervene when witnessing a wrongdoing,” he answered, adding that while there is a need for more community police, the public must adopt a culture of taking care of one another. “The Opposition is ready to address these issues which will consequently make our country safer,” he added.

Following the Police Union’s dismay over the plea deal struck in the HSBC heist case, where Darren Debono, known as it-Topo, was sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison for his involvement in the 2010 heist, but had charges over attempted murder on a policeman dropped, the Opposition leader said that the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner owe an explanation to members of the police force over this decision.

“The gunfight had the intent to kill, and the police, who feel as if they have been discarded, deserve an explanation,” Grech said.

The rapid spike in Covid-19 cases during the past few weeks, especially with the Omicron variant’s arrival in the country, has shaken the public. The PN leader said that Abela has lost control of the pandemic, while trying to convince the public that there are no problems.

“Contact tracing has collapsed, you call for a swab test and they give you an appointment for 10 days later, this represents a total lack of control of the situation,” highlighted Grech.

Grech appealed for the government to offer self-testing kits so that people can test themselves for the virus, while accusing him of failing to make decisions to resort to these resources which could help him in the fight against the pandemic. “Abela must address the situations, as well as the fact that some people are unable to get vaccinated. They should not be discriminated against,” he said.

On the squandering of money which has become a reigning problem over the country, Grech said that the government has also lost control over this matter.

The taxpayer’s money is not being spent responsibly, but rather it is being wasted, while the government then comes back to the public to ask for more money, he said.

The PN wants to offer a new hope, Grech said. “The public has the choice to choose between a Prime Minister who has no ideas, cannot decide and will not consult, but rather defends his friends and attacks the public, or a Nationalist government who has the public’s and the country’s best interest at heart, and will affront the problem of Malta’s reputation,” he emphasised.