By defending corruption, Prime Minister Robert Abela had made himself an “essential part” of the corruption that has taken place under the Labour government over the last ten years, Nationalist party leader Bernard Grech said during a telephone interview on NET FM on Sunday morning.

When talking about the “fraudulent” hospitals’ deal agreement between the Maltese government and Vitals Global Healthcare (VGH), then Steward Health Care, he said that the PL did everything in its power to hijack all institutions.

The courts declared this deal, null and void, arguing that the concessionaire had failed to adhere to obligations laid down in the contract and saying that the deal was “fraudulent.”

He accused Abela of only becoming Prime Minister to defend his predecessor, disgraced Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and all the corruption that was linked to his government.

Grech pointed out that up until the court judgement, Abela was defending Steward, to make sure that the hospitals do not return to the Maltese.

Following the court judgement, Abela said that the government is going to ask Steward to pay him back. However, last week during a parliamentary sitting on Thursday to discuss a motion made by the PN to condemn the hospital’s deal, Abela defended Steward and gave it all the ammunition to use for its appeal, Grech said.

Asked about the impartiality of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and how the constitutional court confirmed an original court judgement that PBS and the Broadcasting Authority (BA) had failed to be impartial, Grech said that although three weeks have passed since this judgment, no one has shouldered responsibility.

Grech said that because the constitutional court confirmed that PBS breached the PN’s rights, then they also breached the rights of the public who deserve to be informed about everything.

He added that PBS has continued to act in the same way, however, the PN is determined and will go back to court if need be.

Asked about the PN’s call for a public inquiry into the death of 20-year-old Jean Paul Sofia, who died last December when a building under construction collapsed with him underneath, Grech called Abela “arrogant and insensitive.”

The PN and Sofia’s parents have been calling for a public inquiry, as it will place the construction industry under scrutiny and reveal recommendations to prevent this from happening again.

Grech said that Abela clearly has something to hide, if he does not, he would call a public inquiry.