Opposition Leader Bernard Grech blasted Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo in Parliament, saying that Bartolo is only interested in himself, and his “huge” shortcomings will suffer no consequences as there are different laws for the government and the average citizen.

Grech spoke in Parliament an hour before the PN protest outside of the Parliament building on Monday, during the general Budget 2025 estimates for the tourism sector.

The PN is holding a protest at 6pm in Valletta, to send a clear message to Ministers Clint Camilleri and Clayton Bartolo that they cannot keep 'stealing' from the public, after a Standards Commissioner report found that Bartolo’s then-girlfriend Amanda Muscat was given a consultancy role without having the necessary qualifications or experience.

“If this was a normal country, today, before us, there would not be Honourable Clayton Bartolo discussing the tourism Budget estimates, but someone else, but Prime Minister Robert Abela does not have the moral authority to remove him,” Grech said.

He said that Bartolo had the audacity to come to Parliament representing a sector which is the livelihood of thousands of Maltese and Gozitans, with a shameful scandal hanging on his neck, one of “theft,” and “fraud,” of thousands of taxpayer money.

Grech said Bartolo, “with his arrogance, believes that the funds are his, and is telling the public that he will remain at his seat, and do whatever he wants.”

He said that Bartolo knows that the Prime Minister does not have the courage, nor the strength to remove him as a Minister, one who should be deciding on the employment of thousands in the tourism sector, and investments of serious operators, but instead, was preoccupied in ensuring his girlfriend had a job despite a lack of qualifications.

Grech continued that Bartolo saw to it as to how Muscat could receive more promotions, to keep her happy, and “in turn, she could keep him happy.”

He said that when Bartolo could not keep her working under his Ministry, he conspired with Minister Camilleri to make her a “pretend consultant for Gozo,” and not because he felt he was breaching ethics, but because he was caught.

“She only had one qualification; simply that she was his girlfriend, and is now his wife. And he comes before the public saying he will remain on the power seat,” Grech said.

He said the average citizen faces consequences for each shortcoming daily, while for the Minister, a “sorry” is enough.

Grech said qualifications mean nothing for Bartolo, as he is telling everyone to ignore the fact that Muscat was not competent for the role she was appointed for.

“There are, of course, hard working people who do not have such certificates, and have succeeded in their career. But the Minister is telling us to ignore everything, even the fact that she did not go to work, or to Gozo, as the important thing is that they are in government, and feel that they can do whatever they want,” Grech said.

He continued that government, with its internal conflicts, still only cares for its people, and not the public.

“Government has no interest towards the country, the Maltese population. They showed us this through the three hospitals’ deal, when voting against a public inquiry into the death of Jean Paul Sofia,” Grech said.

“Bartolo believes the public’s money is there to keep his girlfriend happy. He is indifferent to the public, and is only interested in himself. The Prime Minister defends him, because he has no moral authority to make a decision,” Grech said, questioning if Bartolo knows something about the Prime Minister which is making him refrain from taking action against him.

Grech also questioned whether Abela solely did not want to touch Camilleri, and Bartolo just made it by.

“This government has isolated itself. It does not feel the people’s hurt, how can a Minister feel the people’s struggles if he gave his girlfriend almost €70,000,” Grech said, adding that there are different laws for them, and the public.

He said Permanent Secretaries should also do their jobs and not let Ministers steal from the public.

Grech said that the others in the Labour government should not defend Bartolo, and should not support the notion that the future of thousands of Maltese for the tourism sector, or the Gozo sector, could rest on the advice of an inexperienced “consultant,” had Muscat even done the job.

“That is why the public is angry, and tonight, it will send the message that the public does not want government to continue doing whatever it wants,” Grech said.

PN MP Mario de Marco said that no matter how Abela and Bartolo try to paint a different picture, the Standards Commissioner report carries consequences and responsibilities, and Bartolo is “dishonouring” the tourism industry.

De Marco said that there are several challenges which need to be addressed economically and across all sectors, especially the economic growth due to the overpopulation model.

He quoted and tabled reports made by the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) the Chamber of Commerce, and the Central Bank of Malta on the local labour market, which say that in nine years, Maltese workers in the tourism sector decreased by 30,000, while Third Country Nationals increased by more than 80,000.

De Marco said that foreign workers represent an economic leakage, wherein 50% of their salary often goes to their families abroad, meaning the country is losing out on millions in its own economy.

He called for a serious carrying capacity study, to address the problem of influx of foreigners, which has increased Malta’s already dense population.

He said that 5-star hotels and quality establishments have high turnover of staff, struggle on staff retention, and despite the rise in tourist numbers, there is a decline in the average spending power of tourists, prompting many to opt for more budget friendly accommodation.

De Marco also said that the entertainment tourism industry has increased, attracting more youths and less affluent, high-quality tourists.

He said that there has been an increase in the number of nights spent at private rented accommodations, over hotels. De Marco also said that the Malta Tourism Authority has not licensed over double of the properties available on the market.

De Marco said that the country’s infrastructure cannot keep up with the influx of tourists, which has a strain on public healthcare, education, traffic congestion, overcrowding, lower quality of services, stressed electricity and water systems, urban sprawling and air quality.

He also said that KM Malta Airlines has kept its same managing team and consultants which failed Air Malta, and that half of Malta’s tourists come via private low-cost airline companies.

De Marco said that there are rumours that the airline is losing money, and urged government to be transparent on how much profit it is making.

He said that a strategy and a complete overhaul of tourism laws is needed, which reflect today’s reality. De Marco said that the country needs to invest in its product and change its route, to avoid situations such as in Barcelona, where residents rebelled against tourists.