Opposition leader Bernard Grech stated on Sunday morning that Prime Minister Robert Abela has accepted his request to urgently discuss the situation surrounding the Conscience aid vessel that was allegedly hit with a drone attack just off Maltese waters on early Friday morning and is still floating in the same international waters.

Speaking on party media, the Nationalist Party leader described this to be a “very delicate situation,” in which he made clear that “the national interest shall prevail over every other interest.”

In this light, Grech said that the government has his and his party’s support, though called for it to be more transparent.

Grech remarked that the PN is unhappy with the attacks that took place on Friday and that several questions still remain unanswered on this situation over 48 hours later. He said that these unanswered concerns are why he contacted the Prime Minister to conduct this urgent meeting, alongside every concerned entity, to clarify this situation in private.

The two major party leaders had not yet decided on a time or date, Grech said during his interview on NET TV, though he commented that this meeting should happen today, as soon as possible, as this cautious situation still persists.

Grech then noted that at heart, we must care about safeguarding people’s lives while respecting Malta’s international obligations and the public’s interests.

On this subject, the Opposition leader said that as a country, Maltese authorities must be very careful that they do not prejudice our own rights as a nation-state, while balancing the concern being felt for the safety of everyone onboard the Conscience.

He added that with the ship hoisting no particular flag, there exist certain complications on who is liable over the vessel, which is still in international waters.

During this interview, Grech also discussed this week’s landmark ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) that the sale of Maltese citizenship, through Malta’s golden passport scheme, is currently illegal and in violation of EU law.

Bernard Grech commented that this ruling highlights the distinction between the politics carried out by Malta’s two major parties. Grech described that while the Labour Party “only sees money” and sees a price tag over everything and everyone, the Nationalist Party, in contrast, sees value in people and in Maltese citizenship.

On behalf of the PN, the Opposition leader said that any Maltese citizen must be proud to say that they are a citizen of our country. In this regard, he commented against scrapping any form of citizenship acquisition scheme altogether. He also sustained the importance that Malta continues to abide by EU rules.

“If you are ashamed to say you’re Maltese, I don’t want you to be Maltese, even if you’re a millionaire,” Grech said.

He called for people who attain Maltese citizenship and invest in the Maltese islands afterwards to feel connected to the country. Hence, Grech continued that the Nationalist Party disagrees that the sale of Maltese citizenship should conducted as a mere transaction, “as the PL government believes.”

Discussing the PN’s proposal for the first €10,000 earned from part-time or overtime work to be tax free, Bernard Grech said that the Opposition wishes to introduce this measure, if elected to power, to empower hard-working people.

He ascertained that this measure would help people who are struggling to get by with the increasing cost of living, while “the government isn’t doing enough.” Grech observed that while some people are living comfortably at the moment, others are forced to work increased levels of overtime or take up a second job and work part-time.

“We are talking about thousands of euros here,” he described.

Grech added that this measure has so far been widely regarded by the general public since being announced just a few days ago.

Concluding this interview, Grech discussed his visit to the University of Malta and discussed the PN’s commitment to empowering education. Stating that Malta has virtually no resources outside of its manpower, he said that the PN has always believes in the country’s students, and unlike the Labour Party in power, it has never compromised their situations.

Hence, he stated that the Nationalist Party, if elected to govern, would bolster the education sector, including promoting trade schools in the country.