Leader of the Nationalist Party Bernard Grech said that those who are able but choose not to attend Jean Paul Sofia's vigil will be "failing their country."

Grech passed this strong message at the end of an interview on NET FM, where he reflected on the emotional scenes that took place in the last Parliamentary plenary session on Wednesday, where the government shot down a motion for a public inquiry into the death of Sofia.

In order for the discussion and the vote to take place, Grech said that the PN had to use extraordinary measures for this to take place by filing a motion, as if it were up to the government none of this would have happened.

Grech accused Prime Minister Robert Abela of purposely making sure that the vote took place on the last plenary session before the summer recess so that the topic would not need to be brought up again.

He noted how even after Grech made his final appeal before the vote to try and convince the government benches to vote in favour of a public inquiry, his request fell on deaf ears.

When explaining the events that took place since Sofia's death, Grech said that a few weeks after the incident took place he met with the parents, but he agreed to take a step back as the family were still dealing with the government.

However, "since Robert Abela closed the door in their faces," Grech said that the parents went to the Opposition and it agreed to offer its full support. Therefore, three months after Sofia's death the PN took a very clear public stand on its request to call a public inquiry.

Grech also scrutinised Abela for acting as a lawyer and constantly legalising everything. Instead, Grech said that Abela should be acting as the father of the country.

"Who are you protecting?" Grech said when questioning Abela's reluctance to call a public inquiry.

"The leader of the Labour Party, who is supposed to fight for the workers, does not want to stop people from dying at their place of work."

"This is not about being on the right side of history, this is about doing the right thing at the right time."

Abela has requested that people wait for the ongoing magisterial inquiry to end first before seeing what else needs investigating. Grech called this "a laugh in your face."

Lastly, Grech mentioned how following the vote in parliament, the government voted in favour of a motion to sign off illegalities at Fortina Lido, which the Opposition voted against. Grech said that this shows that Abela has learnt nothing.

A vigil for Jean Paul will be held in front of the Prime Minister's office in Castille on Monday at 8pm.