Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech said on Sunday that his counterpart Prime Minister Robert Abela has “an allergy to the truth.”

Speaking at a mass rally in Birkirkara on Sunday, Grech criticised the Labour Party’s election campaign, saying that Robert Abela is part of the corruption problem which has now made it to the courts, and added that he doesn’t know how to deal with the repercussions.

Grech said that the country is seeing proof that Robert Abela cannot face the problems he created and that he doesn’t have the dignity to face them himself meaning that they become the people’s problems instead.

Grech said that Abela is a Prime Minister who seems to have "an allergy to the truth" and who lives in a world of his own, detached from people’s realities.

Grech asked the people to objectively look at the PL campaign, and cited its slogan ‘Power to the Malta’ [Sahha lill-Maltin], saying that truth was that it was only power for the “corrupt clique” that Abela keeps on protecting.

Grech said that Abela doesn’t have a plan for the public’s healthcare, so much so, that Abela finally admitted it himself in his latest billboard with the slogan, “Health is in your hands.” He added that it was “The Best Time” [L-Aqwa Zmien] for those in power not the people, whom they robbed.

Grech referred to a new case of corruption that was revealed on publication of the inquiry when it turned out that PN MP Mark Anthony Sammut presented documents to the presiding magistrate showing that two Vitals directors were bribed with a €2 million consultancy in order for the concession to change hands to Steward.

He added that on the way to the airport, the Vitals directors were given an additional €15 million to keep quiet. He said that this “filth” was brought about by Keith Schembri, who he quoted as saying that he never did anything behind Joseph Muscat’s back.

Grech also referred to the fact that the Steward CEO sent an email to Robert Abela in 2021 saying that the deal was fraudulent. Grech said that he should have taken that email to the police or the Attorney General to start an investigation on.

He went on to question what held Abela back from doing so, and said that based on the testimony of permanent secretaries in court, who said that Abela was lobbying for a second Vitals deal despite, Abela saying otherwise, it was Muscat who was stopping him.

Grech said that there is one thing that shows the true ugliness of the hospitals being defrauded and referred to the company Technoline. He explained that the company supplied medical supplies before its assets were frozen by the courts last week and now, the current Health Minister is looking for other suppliers. Grech pointed out that, currently, people suffering from cancer are concerned if they will receive their required treatment soon.

Grech said that “the mask is falling” and that this is not a Labour or socialist government but a political mafia. He added that now Abela is trying to buy the people’s vote after leaving them to their own devices and after “eroding” the health of the Maltese through the corruption of the Labour government.

Grech said that there is only one thing that they cannot take and that scares the government: the people’s votes on the 8th of June.

Grech went on to question the kind of MEP candidates Abela is presenting and said that they all have one thing in common: they all got “chummy” with Joseph Muscat. He added that Abela wants the people to vote for candidates who broke and continue to break the rules of the EU.

Grech said that the Labour MEPs are embracing corruption, bribery, and criminality, referring to the “unbelievable” appearance of Rosianne Cutajar at a star Labour MEP candidate’s rally. He said that meanwhile PN MEP candidates embrace good values, represent the PN and have already given proof of what they can contribute since they are experienced and well-established.

In retort to the Labour claim that the PN has no electoral programme and is only using the magisterial inquiry, he said that Abela only wishes to win to remain in power and keep the scheme going. Furthermore, he added that their manifesto didn’t only exist but had been delivered to people’s homes.

To give the people “a taste” of what the PN have to offer on the European level, Grech said that they will obtain funds from the EU that will be used for a better economic model from which everyone will benefit, amongst other measures.

Grech said that the people are currently at an unpleasant crossroads, that the government brought about, but he has faith in the people who walk alongside the PN. He said that he doesn’t see partisanism rather, a “mosaic of people with ideas” in such a historical moment, urging everyone to vote as brothers and sisters and answer Malta’s call.

In her address, President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, reiterated the sentiment of hope. She said that “hope is an attitude” and that Malta got this far, internationally, because of its people who must believe in themselves.

Metsola stressed hope, despite fake news and attacks on her candidature such as billboards, saying that “there are those who take joy in deceit.” She concluded by saying that hope is the political project the PN wishes to realize for the Maltese people and it may only be achieved by voting for the PN.