Prime Minister Robert Abela had to concede to what former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat wanted in the Edward Scicluna situation, said Nationalist Party Leader Bernard Grech during a NET interview on Sunday.

“I am sorry to say that the Prime Minister has been humiliated by his own Cabinet,” Grech remarked. He continued that Abela went to his Cabinet and said that he would remove Scicluna, but ended up having to change his position as the Cabinet “chose to listen to Muscat” instead of the Prime Minister. Grech commented that after Abela’s own Ministers “ridiculed and humiliated him”, he came out and said that Scicluna would be suspended rather than removed from his position as Governor of the Central Bank.

Grech said that Scicluna then came out and said that he would still be holding his position as Governor, and that it was then revealed that Scicluna would still be receiving his full pay, though that after some time it was then revealed that he would be getting half-pay during his suspension.

The Opposition Leader said that Scicluna’s position as Governor is no longer tenable, and added that he should be removed from his position as it is “not acceptable” that he remains in the position of Governor as he is being faced with indictments. Grech said that there are many professions which depend on Malta’s good reputation, and that these professions are all being prejudiced because the country’s interests are not being adhered to.

Grech commented that he believes this “Scicluna saga” has clearly displayed the difference between PN and PL. He continued that PN has remained consistent in its position, “which is based on what is right and just,” but that PL has changed its position “some four or five times depending on what favours them.”

He said that he had given Abela an opportunity to remove Scicluna through Parliament resolution, but that the Prime Minister chose to decline a reconvening of Parliament “because he seemingly does not want us to work together for the good of the country”. He said that Abela instead chose to handle the situation with his Cabinet, and ended up being met with resistance despite going in with the intent to remove Scicluna. Grech remarked that this situation shows that Abela is “a weak Prime Minister.”

Shifting the topic of discussion to recent ongoings pertaining to fraudulent identity cards, Grech said that it has become clearer as time goes on that “Identity Malta”, or Identità, is a place where more questions than answers are spawned every day.

He questioned what Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa has done if it is true that Identità immediately went to the police when it became aware that something was wrong. “Why has he not done anything if these reports came through?” Grech questioned. He remarked that Gafa has an obligation to the Maltese and Gozitan people.

The PN Leader said that every person who was involved with this case in some way should shoulder their responsibility. “Our country deserves the highest standards,” he said, “and it is evident that the Labour government has failed in every sector, even here, an important sector which should put us at ease knowing that our country’s documents are as they should be.”

Grech said that these situations are all damaging to Malta’s reputation and stability. He questioned what Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri is doing in this situation.

“This falls under him,” Grech remarked, “another failure under Byron Camilleri.” Grech commented that every sector under Minister Camilleri “faces crisis” and referred to the police, Identità, and the prison system. He added that Camilleri “has big responsibilities.”

On the matter of Malta’s energy sector, the Opposition Leader said that the road ahead should be clear. “The Maltese and Gozitan people cannot tolerate the government’s incompetence,” he said, commenting that people wait to see where the electricity will go out again every day.

Grech said that the Labour government is one that squanders money without planning or thinking ahead. He continued that businesses and families are suffering due to government incompetence, and that “Abela has no plan or direction.”

He concluded by saying that Abela is currently dealing with infighting and internal struggles within the Labour Party. “We take no pleasure in seeing this,” Grech remarked, “but evidently this is resulting in a negative impact on the government’s leadership … The Prime Minister is alienated as he fights the fire in his own home.”