Opposition Leader Bernard Grech and PN MP Adrian Delia said that the State Advocate, the Attorney General as well as the Police Commissioner have 'confirmed' that they are controlled by government through their answers in the counter-protests.
The three entities filed counter-protests to the PN's judicial protest with regards to the hospitals' deal. Grech and Delia held a press conference on Thursday after the State Advocate, Attorney General and Police Commissioner said earlier today that they were not empowered in terms of the functions of their respective offices to do what the PN had requested in last week's judicial protest calling on the authorities to take action against those "who had defrauded the Maltese people."
Grech and Delia have said that all three have 'abdicated' from their constitutional responsibilities according to the law.
Grech said that the three are choosing to fail in doing their duty, by doing what government wants them to do, this despite the Court of Appeal finding that government worked against the country's interests in the hospitals 'fraudulent concession.'
"Instead of defending the Maltese and Gozitan public, they are failing to do their duty, or else are following government instructions," Grech said, adding that the AG, State Advocate and Police Commissioner are controlled by former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Prime Minister Robert Abela.
Grech said that in the coming days, the PN will officially be replying in Court to the declarations of abdication of duty by these three institutions.
He said that these authorities cannot continue to be Muscat's and Abela's puppets, and that their behaviour is helping and strengthening fraud and corruption.
Delia then detailed the reply given in the counter-protest by the State Advocate. "He said that he cannot do more, and will only obey instructions from government," Delia said.
He said that, however, the constitution clearly says otherwise. In Article 91A of the constitution, it details that the State Advocate must act on its own individual judgement, and not be subject to control by a person or authority, Delia said.
"The Constitutions gives strong powers to the State Advocate to protect the citizen and the state, yet he says he cannot do anything but obey. This shows, in black and white, how there is a constitutional abdication of responsibilities, and an admission by the State Advocate," Delia said.
Delia also detailed the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner's joint reply, pointing out that the PN wants these authorities to take action related to the criminal offence, and not in civil proceedings as the AG and Police Commissioner replied.
"We have an unprecedented situation where the Police Commissioner, in writing, declared that he does not want to do his job," Delia said, adding that this was the same for the AG and the State Advocate.
Delia posed a question; after bringing the hospitals back to the public, and after the Appeals Court judgement, who will take action? Who will protect the Maltese and Gozitan public?
"We are in an unprecedented situation where government is controlling the institutions, and we have the indication that government is telling these institutions not to take action," Delia said.
He said that the PN has one decision to make, and will continue to make it. "We will not be silent, we will not abdicate from our responsibilities to not only do our work, but assure that the people in the highest levels do so as well," Delia said.
Grech said that the PN will not exclude any other type of action.
"What was declared in the counter-protests is a worrying declaration, that those who have the duty to protect, are abdicating, failing, and throwing away that responsibility," Grech said.