The Nationalist Party said Sunday that Prime Minister Robert Abela has revealed his true intentions on the magisterial inquiry reform, as he said that the reforms should also extend and apply to pending requests before Magistrates.
The PN issued a statement saying that Abela wants the inquiry reform to apply even to those already before the Magistrates and said that Abela is not only failing to ensure justice is delivered promptly, but “in a panic to save his own skin and that of his associates, he is scrambling to shift the goalposts.”
The statement was referring to the law making changes to who can initiate a magisterial inquiry, a bill which was hurriedly presented to Parliament by government.
“With each passing day, Abela continues to expose himself, revealing that this so-called reform is nothing more than an attempt to protect his associates who defrauded the public, rather than safeguard the people,” the PN said.
It said that Abela has made it clear why he wants this reform passed through Parliament as soon as possible, while other crucial reforms affecting people’s lives have been waiting months or even years for discussion.
“Abela only cares about himself and those around him.For Abela, you are merely a vote that enables him to continue doing whatever he pleases, while you foot the bill,” the PN said.
The PN said that there is a vast gap between Abela’s words and his actions, and that justice and healthcare are in crisis, with thousands of court cases waiting to be resolved and a hospital struggling under immense pressure.
It said that in 12 years, this government has failed to attract even a single new economic sector offering quality jobs for youth and workers.
“Abela and his associates cannot focus on governing the country because they are more focused on lining their own pockets,” the PN said.
“Meanwhile, while you work, pay taxes, and are required to declare everything to the government, government members do not want you to know what they are earning, nor do they want to make their asset declarations public,” the PN said.
It said that people are fed up with a government that “thinks it can do whatever it wants with public money,” a government that is preoccupied with seizing opportunities while covering its tracks.
“The public wants a government that is focused and governed with direction and a plan. The Labour Government is neither focused nor does it have a plan,” the PN said.
The PN also criticised Abela for saying that the inquiry initiated by the PN, which uncovered how senior Labour figures were key accomplices in the hospital’s fraud, was “money wasted.”
“Abela claimed that if the inquiry into Vitals and Steward hadn’t taken place, he would have built a new school instead,” the statement said, adding that Abela is no longer credible when speaking about education, justice, or healthcare.
The PN attacks institutions and wants them to work à la carte - PL
The Nationalist Party's statement about the Prime Minister is surreal, the PL said in reply. Up to two days ago the Opposition wanted to dictate what the Courts should do because it believes that the rule of law is à la carte.
The only party that attacked and still attacks institutions is the Nationalist Party which remains ruled by its extremist faction, the PL said.
The PN is against change that seeks to stop abuse of justice and prevents honest people from being attacked in vain, the PL added.
This change that will give statutory rights to victims but, the Nationalist Party led by its extremist faction, is against this reform, according to the PL.
The people know who always entices hatred and who invested strongly to improve its quality of life. The PN extremist faction that destroys who disagrees with it is still finding it difficult not to revert to partisan politics, the statement concluded.