The more that Prime Minister Robert Abela tries to maintain power and control over everything, the more it slips from his hands and leaves him having control over nothing, Nationalist Party Leader Bernard Grech said as he spoke during a protest in Valletta on Sunday.

The theme of the protest was “Gvern li falla” (A government that has failed). The protest began with a march down Republic Street from the area outside the parliament building, with Grech and other PN members walking at the front of the protest while holding a banner with the Maltese flag shown on the front. Several of the thousands of attendees of the protest carried placards relevant to the theme.

Grech told the crowd that the Prime Minister is making poor decisions due to a lack of principles, as he remarked that Abela is being led by his own mistakes and U-turns. He continued that Abela’s politics are politics of uncertainty and no direction.

The Opposition Leader described the government as a “pretend government,” as he remarked that the government is not working and does not carry out its promises, adding that the government is unable to lead the country because it is also unable to lead itself. Grech commented that the government has lost touch with the people and is governing with its own self-interest in mind.

As he addressed the crowd at the protest, Grech remarked that despite some attendees having different political beliefs, they still met together for the interest of the country. He continued that the government does not have the principles that the people hold as Europeans and as Maltese, remarking that “the government changes its beliefs more than it changes clothes.”

The Opposition Leader said that the Prime Minister has been inconsistent in the way he speaks about foreign policy in public and what he then actually does.

Grech said that Abela spoke about how he would go to Brussels and tell them not to spend money on defence because of the Prime Minister’s belief in peace. Having said that, Grech remarked that everyone believes in peace, but that it still has to be worked for. “Peace is achieved through diplomacy and discussion, but you also need defence,” Grech stated.

He continued that some months ago, Abela had made a declaration that he would increase expense in the country’s defence, and that the PN agreed with this because of consistency. With that in mind, Grech questioned if Abela does not believe in peace if he is investing in the country’s defence, to which he continued that no, Abela just understood that what he was saying was falsehoods “and he ended up agreeing with us once again.”

Speaking again on Brussels, Grech said that Abela went there with people expecting him to be ready to argue his point, but that it then resulted that Abela did no such thing and also did not vote against the motion despite his public sentiment.

Grech spoke about the recent 200kg drug theft from Armed Forces of Malta premises, and the subsequent reaction from the government.

The Opposition Leader said that a strong European democracy cannot work if the Prime Minister and Cabinet give themselves the licence to never take political responsibility, which he remarked is what happened in this case with Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri’s resignation having been denied by the Prime Minister. Grech said that Abela’s refusal to remove Camilleri was a removal of ministerial responsibility.

Focusing on the issue of the proposed amendments by the government to the magisterial inquiry, Grech said that the Prime Minister wants to take away people’s right to open such an inquiry because he is afraid. Grech questioned why the government would be afraid of the people’s voices.

The answer to that question, Grech remarked, would be cases such as that of Vitals and Steward, Electrogas, 18,000 fake identity cards, corrupt Transport Malta licenses, social benefits fraud, LESA corruption, and the murder of a journalist, among other cases.

Grech said that the government is also tired when it comes to the economic sector. He stated that he has spoken to business owners and investors who speak of there being no economic direction. He continued that the government has no plan or direction in regard to the economy.

Continuing on this point, the Opposition Leader said that under nationalist governments, Malta cultivated sectors such as the aviation sector, the pharmaceutical sector, and the gaming sector. He commented that such sectors were not established overnight, but were established due to having a clear plan with strategic direction and concrete initiatives.

He said that under a nationalist government, the country would change direction, with the PN establishing new areas of economic activity to improve the quality of life for Maltese and Gozitans. He spoke of PN proposals such as the removal of the tax on the cost of living adjustment, more maternity and paternity leave, and tax credits for businesses.

The Opposition Leader said that the PN wants an education system that allows children and young people to be creative and critical, as well as encouraging them to ask more questions. He said that the PN wants the economy to create new jobs with good wages and satisfying work, and continued that the PN wants an infrastructure which can support sustainable economic development.

Grech said that a nationalist government is prepared to implement a long-term plan, and not a plan focused around the general election cycle, as “you and your family do not live your lives in five-year episodes.”

The PN Leader concluded that the PN remains united in working together for the good of the country and the children.

Michael Piccinino, the outgoing General Secretary of the PN, also addressed the crowd during the protest.

Piccinino said that the government’s priorities were wrong, remarking that it chose to help itself instead of helping the people. He particularly focused on failures in security, and spoke of the drug theft from AFM premises, in addition to speaking about reports regarding the prison system and the issuing of fake identification documents.

Referring to recent situations which took place in parliament, with PN MP Karol Aquilina being referred to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee after refusing to retract his comments towards the Prime Minister about being “friends with criminals”, Piccinino said that such a statement is one that the PN says publicly.

He continued that if the government takes issue with that being said, it should seek them out through other means rather than through a parliamentary committee in which the government has a majority.