Opposition Leader Bernard Grech strongly urged the public to attend Monday's protest in front of the Parliament building at 6pm, to send a clear message to Ministers Clint Camilleri and Clayton Bartolo that they cannot keep 'stealing' from them.

At the time, Bartolo will be inside in the Parliament's plenary session discussing the Budget estimates for the tourism sector, Grech said, giving the public the chance to deliver its message to Prime Minister Robert Abela, Camilleri and Bartolo.

Grech was commenting live on NET FM on the protest the PN called for Monday, 18 November, urging "everyone and their families, neighbours," to be at Valletta at 6pm, and protest. Bartolo and Camilleri were found by the Standards Commissioner to have given a lucrative consultancy role to Amanda Muscat, Bartolo's then girlfriend, without her having any qualifications or expertise in the role.

The report found that Muscat was receiving a €68,000 salary, complete with an expertise allowance, for a job she did not even do.

Abela had defended the two ministers among calls for their resignation, saying that Bartolo's apology was "sufficient," and that he himself had removed Muscat from the role.

"Evidently, it is not enough to make speeches in Parliament, or present motions, or do programmes on TV or the radio. This government needs to hear a clear message from the public," Grech said on Saturday.

Grech said that the country needs a lot of work and a clear direction, as the public "is fed up with those who think the country is their own."

He said that Labour and its many shortcomings have "taken all from the Maltese public."

Grech said that the public must make a difference by attending the protest, just as it did with its vote in the last MEP elections, and everyone, except for a few exceptions, should attend.

He said that Monday's protest is an opportunity for the public to raise its voice and show government and cannot continue on this track, and it cannot do whatever it wants.

"They think our future, our children's future, and the country is theirs," Grech said.

He referred to Bartolo's recent comment that "not everything is diplomas and degrees" in his wife's defence, and said that surely, it is not acceptable that a consultancy role which requires qualifications is given to someone who does not have such qualifications.

"You, who have worked hard for your future and the future of your children, and then you have to listen to a Minister tell you that whatever qualifications you or your children worked hard for, you can stay where you are, as the most important qualification is that she is his wife," Grech said.

He said that while the public work hard for years and saves up to finally be able to pay for a property, the Minister's wife can quickly buy a property with her salary.

Grech said that there is a lack of a level playing field, and that is why the country's youths see no future in the country. He said that several who work and get their degrees and certificates get paid €24,000, such as a teacher, not almost €70,000 per year.

He said the PN will be broadcasting the protest, but encouraged people to make their presence at Valletta to make a difference.

Grech recalled that Abela continued to be hardheaded with Jean Paul Sofia's mother for a public inquiry into his death, but as soon as he saw the public in front of Castille square, he had to concede.

Grech said that consequences seem to only exist for the average citizen, but not for the Ministers who can just say "sorry" and be defended, without having to pay back the amount of taxpayer money.

Taking a few calls from the public, callers said that they would be attending Monday's protest, out of anger of yet more scandals involving government politicians.

Grech said that a Youthful Malta has the potential to grow and succeed in favour of youths and all Maltese citizens, and the PN is there to push towards the right direction.

He urged youths to attend the protest on Monday to show that "the future is theirs and the opportunities are there for you, not for the friends of Ministers."

Grech also said that angry Labourites who, not long ago, were at the counting hall helping, even as canvassers, have told him that they realised they have been "used."

A caller asked how a PN in government would address early school leavers who end up having to need to work due to a higher cost of living, Grech said that this is a complex reality, and a true reform is needed in the education system.

"This was always an important pillar for the PN, not just as a tool but as a formation of a person throughout their lives. We need a system that supports and gives resources for you to be a full human being," Grech said, adding that students need to be energised with a system that gives them space to process and analyse information, leading to effective critical thinking.

He said that while there are many teachers who want to practise critical thinking more, the curriculum is so large that many times it is impossible to give students the necessary space to make their own conclusions.

Grech said that education would become more interesting if this space for processing information is given, which can then attract more students to continue studying.

He replied to a call from a Birkirkara Local Councillor, who said that the people are angry, but this cannot turn into apathy, and encouraged people to attend the protest.

"Monday is an opportunity for action, to express this anger, disappointment, and push aside apathy," Grech said, adding that the Prime Minister is weak, and does not have solutions.

Another first-time caller, who was a former member of the General Workers' Union (GWU), asked where the union has been amidst these scandals.

Grech commended the union's work, however, he said that "unfortunately, the GWU remains a union which does not extend its hand when there is a Labour government."

Grech also replied to a call expressing discontent with the recent traffic jams caused by the SiGMA iGaming convention, saying that SiGMA is a good idea, attracting around 27,000 to 28,000 foreigners from the gaming sector in the shoulder month of November, contributing to the economy, and involves Maltese in the setting up of sets and stands in the conference.

"It is good that this conference happens in Malta, and continues to grow, but evidently, this government has not understood that this conference could grow, and did not invest," Grech said.

He said the problem started last year, and this year, government claimed they understood and learnt, and yet the same problem occurred this year.

"What is the problem? SiGMA or government? SiGMA is an opportunity, but we have a government who does not anticipate, think, invest, or understand that it is there for the Maltese," Grech said.

Grech continued that Abela and Bartolo have been caught in their own lies, in first saying nothing wrong was done, then apologising, meaning that there were failings.

He said that Abela is not right in saying that action was taken when Muscat was removed from her role, as the Ministers who gave it to her must also be removed.

Grech said Abela is confident in taking action against women and the vulnerable, but not with his Ministers.

"We have a government who ended up chasing its tail, confusing itself and getting caught red-handed in lies when it tries to justify itself," Grech said, calling Abela weak, and not having any more to offer to the Maltese and Gozitan public.