Prime Minister Robert Abela and his government are only in politics “to become millionaires and to protect their criminal friends,” Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said on Saturday.

Speaking on Net FM, Grech said Abela was wasting his time and effort not on the country and its people but on protecting himself and trying to hide his past.

The PN Leader said Abela has his back to the wall, so much so that he has resorted to personal attacks.

“For Robert abela there are no boundaries, no family. He can attack me as much as he wants because I have nothing to hide, nothing to be ashamed of. But people fear that Abela will do the same with them. They feel persecuted by Abela and his finance minister, they feel threatened by the authorities.”

He said many people in business and the financial services are feeling the burden of bureaucracy and suspicion by the authorities.

“The moment Abela was outed as having had a relationship with a criminal, when it became clear that he is not the ‘Mr Perfect’ he wants us to think he is, he attacked the editor of it-Torca and independent journalists. But we will not bow down to any form of oppression. We will remain a shield for all the people,” Grech said.  

He said he was certain that the drone sent to film his house earlier this week did not belong to the Planning Authority. “We know exactly what it was. Just an hour later the PM let slip that he wants journalists to investigate my house.”

Speaking about the government’s vote against the PN’s Daphne inquiry proposals, Grech said “it is clear they do not have this country at heart. They are there to become millionaires, to protect their own interests.”

Abela was still refusing to meet him for a debate, Grech continued, adding that the PM wanted to remain in a safe space where he could avoid questions.

“They are now even stealing our national heritage,” he said, in reference to reports that agriculture minister Anton Refalo has a protected Victorian-era milestone at his private residence.

 

Abela worse than Muscat

“People thought that Abela was better than his predecessor, Joseph Muscat, but are now realising that he is actually worse.”

Abela wasting his time and effort on avoiding a split in his party, Grech said.

“This country needs new leadership, not a prime minister who is controlled by criminals.”

Turning to the case of Darren Debono ‘it-Topo’, who this week refused to testify against his accomplices despite being given a plea bargain, Grech said this is a “pattern.”

“This is a Prime Minister who is working only for himself and his criminal friends. Debono was given a pardon not to uncover others but to remain tight-lipped. It is evident that the Attorney General did not do her duty well. This is why we have called for her resignation. She did not even provide an explanation. Once again, the Office of the Attorney General has failed the country, and it has failed the justice system.”

Grech said a PN government would address anomalies, injustices and energy bill theft, saying that the government can do this instead of wasting money on billboards and propaganda.

 

Scandals

Grech said all the scandals being uncovered worry him on several levels. “Firstly, because they happen, which means there are corrupt politicians in government.”

“Unfortunately, we are becoming immune to such matters. The result is that people are losing their trust in politicians, and they place us all in the same basket. But we are not all the same. They entered politics to become rich. But we have politicians who truly believe that politics are a force for good, for the country and its people.”

The PN Leader said he was also worried because youths are being alienated.

“They have given up on Malta, and these are the people who are supposed to lead the country in the coming years.”

Grech accused the government of making u-turns and finally taking up PN proposals on free IVF medication and the extension of the Covid wage supplement.

He urged the party faithful to attend the PN’s Sunday event in Mosta, where he will be unveiling new proposals on mental health and the environment.