Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech has criticized the Government's handling of the ongoing cost of living crisis, saying that "the government is attacking businesses."

"This government, when it comes to cost of living, is doing nothing. Actually, let me correct myself, it is [doing something] - it is attacking the people in business...70% or more are run by Maltese families, meaning that this government, in terms of cost of living, is attacking family businesses - Maltese and Gozitan families."

"We gave the government solutions. It is not implementing them and is stomping its feet."

In an interview featured on NET Television this Sunday, PN leader Bernard Grech expressed his frustrations on what the Maltese population is going through under the leadership of Robert Abela and the reigning government. He primarily focused on the described poor handling of the cost-of-living crisis, though also discussed his party's continued work as the country's Opposition and on his party's vision to foster a better future for Malta.

Grech said that the increases in the cost of living have been "impoverishing" the country and repeated his party's stance for COLA payments not to be taxed. He said that this would prove to be very helpful to those who would benefit most out of these monetary adjustments.

The leader of the Opposition said that with prices increasing in general as a result of external shocks to the local market, local businesses have had to cope by naturally increasing their own prices. In this regard, Grech stated that the Government should "help businesses, and thus employers, by giving them tax benefits".

Answering a separate question relating to the importance for PN to take action, Grech said that it is important for people to understand what his party is trying to do and that the two major parties, and their leaders, are not the same. "We are very different", Grech said.

In this regard, he elaborated that the Nationalist Party is committed to developing a new economic model for the country while saying that, through this government, "there is a certainty that Robert Abela will keep increasing our population" through the strategy of importing foreign workers for cheap labour.

Grech talked about the PN's desire to put technology and efficiency at the centre of its proposed economic model. "The Maltese population is wise and hard-working", Grech praised, saying that his party wants to build new economic sectors of quality and try to retain the country's brightest minds rather than watch them leave the Maltese islands for better opportunities abroad. This hard-working attitude was also described to be a positive trait that "could be transferred over towards good governance and better politics" should such people be elected.

He also condemned the government for not investing enough towards clean energy - "it cannot be", he cried. Grech told viewers that the Nationalist Party would invest more towards prioritising renewable energy, saying that this is not only needed but also what the people deserve.

Moreover, he described that "the Labour Party used to say it was pro-business" and that "a lot of damage was done" by the Prime Minister because he is close to certain businessmen. Grech clarified that this information was based on what he was told by local businessmen. "The PN does not see the business sector as an opportunity for us", he said, "we see it as an opportunity for Malta and the Maltese".

The Opposition leader then lambasted the Government as "a government of criminals", saying that Robert Abela is yet to take action to return the €400 million of taxpayer money that was used in the "fraudulent" Vitals/Stewards hospital deal. He continued that Abela was quick to aid those receiving the €400 million and implied that this sentiment does not hold true to the rest of the population.

Continuing this tirade, Grech questioned why Abela is "scared" to arraign the people responsible for this hospital deal to court. Answering his own question, he said that the Court had already concluded that it was a fraudulent deal, and moreover, "it's because he is one with the people involved" in this deal.

The interview saw Bernard Grech discuss PN's recent comments that foreign workers - specifically third country nationals - should be obliged to have a basic understanding of the Maltese language.

"Why do we need to speak in English to receive a service? Why did my mother have to speak in English as an unwell 90-year-old?", Grech passionately said. "I am not against foreign workers, though I believe that they should have a basic level of the Maltese language".

Elaborating further, the Nationalist leader labelled this as a point to promote better integration of foreign workers in the Maltese islands.

"They should not be seen as enemies, but as partners within the business sector; we must help them", Grech said.