Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said that the road forward for the country is one of change, and urged the public to send a clear message to Prime Minister Robert Abela and Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri at the PN’s second protect in front of Parliament on Monday.

Grech was speaking in a dialogue on Sunday, and said that under a Labour government, the country will remain one of quantity, scandals, “fraud,” U-turns, and theft of public funds, while the PN would plan and think differently, ensuring a higher quality of life, creating new economic sectors and strengthening current ones, and is focused on investments to the country’s infrastructure.

He mentioned the “phantom” top-paid consultancy job given to former Minister Clayton Bartolo’s wife Amanda Muscat, under the Gozo Ministry.

“There is only fraud, frequent fraud under the Labour government. The public believes in hard work, but it is government, the Prime Minister and those close to him, who are failing, and not the public and the country,” Grech said.

He said that Abela, almost five years ago, when he became Prime Minister, had promised continuity.

“He came out as a man as he managed to continue another five years of fraud, which characterises a Labour government,” Grech said.

Grech continued that everyone questions whether we have reached the bottom, or if there is a deeper bottom to get to.

“The road forward cannot be better under Labour. In the next election, they will continue stealing and Abela will continue defending them,” Grech said.

He mentioned all those who resigned in the past Labour legislatures, namely Michael Falzon, Joseph Muscat, Konrad Mizzi, Keith Schembri, Rosianne Cutajar, Silvio Grixti, Justyne Caruana, Chris Fearne, and now, Clayton Bartolo.

“They all had to concede to the public’s pressure, as the public elects and removes you, and no one can beat a united public in the streets,” Grech said.

Despite the pressure, governor of the Central Bank of Malta Edward Scicluna has still not conceded, but rather “pretended to step away but continues to receive the salary he adjusted for himself,” Grech said.

“Government’s roadmap is being elected and take the people’s money, and it has been robbing the public daily,” Grech said. He said that when Abela justified Muscat’s job, they all said that procedures were followed.

He questioned which procedures they followed, that of government, or that of Labour.

Grech said many Labourites are angry over the situation, and have said they will not vote Labour again, wanting the country to be led appropriately.

The CEO of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) Andrew Agius Muscat spoke of the tourism industry, and the need to refine and better manage it.

Agius Muscat said that tourism is a long success story in Malta, recognised by statistics as well as neighbouring countries, which much work done over the years.

“As an association we were never against development in tourism, even with regards to short-term rentals, but we spoke of the importance to manage and control it well,” he said.

Aguis Muscat said that the word “overtourism” crops up more often, but he described it as an excuse for the shortcomings and mistakes being made.

He said that the focus must be more on investment and a positive impact to the people, and many things need addressing such as drainage infrastructure, energy, electricity, water, roads and more.

Agius Muscat also said that the type of tourist the country is attracting has lower purchasing powers, and there needs to be a clear vision with wise decisions for the sector.

In response, Grech said that government believes that the sector can move on its own, and now, the country is suffering the consequences from a lack of investment towards infrastructure.

He said that the PN’s road forward is wise, towards a vision and direction for the country to be one of quality.

Associate Professor at the University of Malta and Sociologist Michael Briguglio said that few weeks ago, the Budget for 2025 was announced, but the country is shaken with scandals, and the government is too busy defending itself from its scandals.

Briguglio said that politics and policymaking is there to better the lives of citizens, and not to defend politicians.

He spoke of the need of an impact assessment, not from the Minister and his close associates, but discussed with experts, civil society, NGOs, unions and employers, as well as those “invisible voices,” and the “silent majority” of the population.

Briguglio said that investment must be made towards a better life for residents, and while an impact assessment is not the speediest of solutions, it is the wisest, and studies all voices.

“People do not want something special, they just want to wake up to no scandals on the newspapers, to a better quality of life, for students to be able to purchase their home,” Briguglio said.

He said the public wants normality and peace of mind, but this normality is being forgotten. “The Maltese public want wiseness, and good governance, which will translate into peace of mind for their families,” Briguglio said.

Grech then quoted a Times of Malta report on Sunday, which revealed a secret agreement suggesting that payments into a €1 million bribery fund were tied to Steward Health Care's negotiations with the Maltese government for significant financial increases. 

“Till today, Abela has done everything not to retrieve the €400 million stolen in the three hospitals’ deal,” Grech said.

Tomorrow, the PN’s appeal will be decided, and could result into two outcomes, Grech said.

“Either the Court says that the State Advocate has the right to open the case to retrieve the €400 million, as we have been pushing him to, and not wait for Abela’s instructions, in which case the State Advocate has the chance to bring the money back,” Grech.

Otherwise, if the Court declares the State Advocate does need instructions by the PM, then “it is only through electing a PN government that the money will come back,” Grech said, vowing that it would be the first thing he would do if elected.

Grech said that currently, Abela is in Gozo “doing damage control,” after Camilleri has not resigned. He emphasized Camilleri is just as guilty as Bartolo, if not more, but government has continued to ridicule people.

“They all admitted they did wrong, but then they accuse PN MPs of not going to work. Aside from it being false, the argument that the other has done wrong therefore their wrongs are okay is bad,” Grech said, accusing government of a “frameup” against PN MPs.

He said that Camilleri must resign for giving a phantom job to Muscat and allowing her not to come in for work.

Grech said the PN government will guarantee that the public’s taxes are spent wisely, and encouraged everyone to attend the PN’s second protest at 6pm tomorrow.