Like he did with Joseph Muscat and Keith Schembri, PM Robert Abela is defending Konrad Mizzi, PN leader Bernard Grech said on Wednesday.

In an interview on the PN's media, Grech explained how Abela not taking action means that he is defending Mizzi. Although “he (Konrad Mizzi) is not in parliament, they have voted to defend him”.

Earlier this week, an LNG Security of Supply Agreement that Konrad Mizzi, then Energy Minister, had signed with SOCAR was revealed. This was a previously undisclosed state guarantee for Electrogas that Joseph Muscat’s government kept hidden from public view, including from banks and the European Commission

Grech added that this “web of corruption” is not a dream and is causing a lot of damage to Malta’s name and its economic situation.

He added that the PN is going to continue to fight corruption, together with journalists and concerned NGOs.

On the Transport Malta Scandal, Grech said that days have passed and “we still don’t know who the Minister is; Robert Abela is still defending him”.

A government minister has been linked to a corruption case surrounding driving theory tests involving three Transport Malta officials.

Transport Malta director for the Land Transport Directorate Clint Mansueto, former Żebbuġ Labour councillor Philip Edrick Zammit and Raul Antonio Pace pleaded not guilty to charges brought against them.

The PN leader said that when the PL government is faced with a decision it always chooses “its friends over the good of the nation”.

Mentioning this year’s independence programme, Grech said that it will be focused on the quality of life, as any person’s wellbeing is at the centre of the PN’s politics.

The party wants better air quality and decent health care services.

PN Shadow Minister for Finance Jerome Caruana Cilia said that the party has been working on its pre-budget document, where like every year, the party presents its proposals and objectives for the next 12 months.

“We also give an analysis of the actual and current economical situation together with public depth and the sectors which need to be addressed,” he said.

He said that this year’s document is going to be focusing on the cost of living.

Caruana Cilia explained how many people are resorting to concerned NGOs to have a warm meal daily on their table and this is “always increasing”.

Mentioning the country’s public debt, he said that until the end of July Malta has a debt of €8.56 billion, which is an increase of around 9% over the same period last year.

Going into further detail he revealed how back at end of July 2012 this sum was at €4.82 billion, which means that in a decade there was an increase of around 77%.

Up until last December, Malta had a deficit of 8%, which was the highest amongst all EU member states for the time being.

He explained how the PN has called on the government several times for it to do mini budgets, as “people need the help right now”, and not just next year. He said that these budgets should have happened in May and April.

The shadow minister resorted to looking at measures other European countries have implemented to help its citizens such as Portugal’s fiscal incentives and its measure to give €50 for every child to help with inflation costs “before it gets worse”.

Other countries which were brought as an example were Germany France and Spain. Caruana Cilia said that Malta should follow their example in this regard.