“It is evident that the PL has no plan and is copying the PN’s electoral program, and all it has left to do is attack and lie,” Nationalist Party Leader Bernard Grech said on Monday.
Speaking in Birkirkara, Grech saidthe business measures announced by the PL earlier on Monday have been “copied” from the PN’electoral manifesto. The PN, he said, had already announced that it would be seeking to allow every resident and company in Malta to have access to a basic account and use of ATM.
Speaking about the Nationalist Party, Grech said that when he first became leader, he did not waste any time and managed to strengthen the party and its voice as the Opposition.
Asked whether or not he thinks that NET and ONE are contributing to political tribalism, he reminded that it was Eddie Fenech Adami himself who brought pluralism in the Maltese media. Grech added how Fenech Adami remarked that there might come a day where political parties might not need their own media.
On the other hand, everybody knows that PBS is controlled by Robert Abela, Grech said.
Referring to the ongoing case against PBS, where is being investigated for biased reporting, he said the CEO and the Editor’s testimony did not match.
Grech remarked that a PN government wants an independent national channel where the Broadcasting Authority would have the necessary means to carry out constant monitoring.
Asked about the passport scheme and Russia situation, Grech said that since Robert Abela does not have any other means to generate wealth, it has to continue shaming Malta and remaining dependent on the sale of passports.
He added that those who buy a Maltese passport should not be allowed to do so for their own personal gains but rather if they pass a due diligence test, and their names must not be hidden.
Speaking about the Ukraine situation and whether he would consider Malta joining NATO if he is elected to government, Grech said that Malta would still be able to form relations whilst remaining neutral.
He said that there are other means apart from military actions which Malta can consider if it wants to show support to other countries, such as the political position Malta took during the Libyan war.
Speaking about the Police Commissioner, he reminded that the investigations about a drone that was sent to film his home a few weeks back are still ongoing. Grech took this opportunity to assure that under a PN government, the police commissioner would be one that follows the law and who does not look at faces.
Asked about the cannabis reform bill and the PN’s position, he said that it is still the same. He added that a PN government would introduce new amendments to the cannabis law to try to minimize the ‘consequences’, experts had warned about.