Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said that the Nationalist Party will soon announce the first set of new candidates for the general election, to strengthen its electoral work whenever the election may be held.

Grech spoke in an interview on the party's media station, NET, where he said that the PN is undergoing changes both to be prepared for the next general election, "whenever it comes," and to prepare itself to govern the country, so that it "immediately addresses the problems Labour left in the past years."

He said that it has an obligation to give hope and a better Malta that people deserve. "This will be done by extending and strengthening the party to continue moving forward," Grech said.

Grech said that in the past days, Michael Piccinino stepped down as General Secretary as he will be contesting the general election, and the process has started for a new PN General Secretary to be appointed.

He mentioned Nathaniel Attard who became the new PN's communications director, as well as James Aaron Ellul who will also be contesting the general election, and was appointed Director of the Librerija Informa, which is part of the PN headquarters.

Grech said that the work ahead of the elections is a priority, and the PN will continue knocking on doors and keeping contact with the people, to build better politics for the people.

He also spoke about there being "one crisis after the other each week" where he said that government is so plagued with internal problems that it has not done "one thing right."

He mentioned several of the scandals the country has seen, such as the LESA fine racket, the extension of Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa's term, as well as the identity cards scandal, which are all under Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri's responsibilities, Grech said, adding that Camilleri protected Gafa whenever he failed to investigate serious allegations.

"The biggest one is the identity card racket, the most important document in the country which can identify you, and which you need everywhere. This government instilled doubt in the identity cards, due to the serious allegations that these ID cards were falsified," Grech said.

He said he has spoken to a banker who reminded him that with these falsified ID cards, holders can go to the bank and make use of their services. Grech said that government has yet to say if there were "hundreds" of falsified ID documents.

Grech pointed out that notaries and lawyers were not consulted with, nor informed about the new lease registration form individuals have to fill out and get signed by a notary or a lawyer, a measure issued by Identita last week.

Both the notaries' chamber and that for lawyers have issued directives to their members to refuse signing such forms.

"This is not a daily occurrence, nor a joke. It is so serious that both issued directives, yet the Minister continues as if nothing happened, and the Prime Minister defends the mess," Grech said, adding that Robert Abela has remained weak and defended Camilleri under all circumstances.

Moreover, the new lease registration form adds weight and excess bureaucracy for those who want to rent, as the cost for the notary/lawyer would fall on those who want to rent, Grech said.

Asked about the PN's activities for Independence Day at the end of the month, Grech said that the PN has the obligation and responsibility to instil hope in the people, who often ask if "Labour's mess" would be addressed.

"I have trust as the public is resilient after it continued moving forward whatever the challenges and difficulties, and the PN after the general election will be worrying about you, and not discourage and make you worry," Grech said.

He said a PN government would have the public's interest at heart, and not their own pockets.

"The road forward is to give Malta the freedom and independence it needs, not from the hold of a foreign empire, but from the criminal empire in the country," Grech said.

Grech called for people to attend and celebrate at the PN's meeting on 20 September, the eve of Independence Day.