Prime Minister Robert Abela took aim at the Nationalist Party during a PL political event on Sunday, saying that PN MEPs pushed for a debate on Malta's Rule of Law to be held within the European Parliament next week.
Abela was speaking about the importance of quality investment in the country. "Gone are the days of accepting any kind of investment in the country regardless of what it is," he said, giving the example of investment that would result in the need of hundreds of low skilled workers.
"We only want quality investment, such as in the sectors of renewable energy, pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors, etc."
"While the people recognize the importance of such important investment, I sincerely cannot understand how this week there is a European Parliament debate, driven by PN MEPs, which is aimed at snatching investment from coming to our country and breaking local investment. While the debate has the façade of one about the rule of law - and I have no problem debating about the rule of law - its effects will be to discourage quality investment from coming to the country," he said.
"What picture are they trying to paint in the European Parliament? They are trying to paint a picture that in our country there is a weak rule of law. The consequence of that happening will be that investors looking at which country to invest in will say that if there is a weak rule of law they will not invest in that country. That is the aim of it."
Abela appealed to PN Leader Alex Borg to order the PN MEPs to withdraw "this debate against our country." He said that instead of doing that while in Brussels recently, Borg "does nothing."
"We are the opposite. This week we will hold a debate in the Maltese Parliament in favour of Malta," Abela said, "where we will show the changes we made in good governance, started by Edward Zammit Lewis and continued by Jonathan Attard." Abela said he will go to the leaders of the EU countries during the next EU Council meeting and will speak in favour of Malta and defend the interests of the Maltese."
He spoke of the "robust framework of good governance in the country," mentioning the method by which members of the judiciary are appointed, and the strengthening of the permanent committee against corruption as examples.
He said that the government will continue defending Malta's name, and will continue attracting investment to the country.
During the activity, he spoke about SMEs, and how they would go to banks for loans but after long waits would have their requests denied.
The government, in the coming days, will establish a Credit Review Office, he said, after it was approved by Cabinet. This Office will also serve as a mediator between the bank and client where, if an application is refused, it will mediate to try and find a solution. The government will also include a new obligation for banks to have a charter of rights for those applying for loans, to know what documents they must provide to the bank, the length of time a request will take to be processed and the reason for refusal if the request is refused.
Turning to the country's finances, Abela said that when he updates the President of the European Commission about Malta's position in its strategy to reduce the deficit, "I will tell her that we are more advanced than what was agreed," he said. This, "while we are increasing investment in the health, social and infrastructure sectors," Abela said.
During the event, Abela also said that the government is working to see how social media use among children can be controlled. He said that government wants to ensure that children are raised with strong values, and to protect youths. "There is work at an advanced stage as to how we will implement this measure. We are looking at children aged 13 and under," he said, noting that it could be widened.
Abela also said during the event that The Labour Government strengthened workers' conditions and restored public holidays that had fallen on weekends, which he said had been taken away when the PN was in government. He explained that with that decision, the PN had effectively "stolen" 48 days that fell on holidays, meaning that workers had been deprived of two years' worth of leave.
Abela highlighted a number of measures coming into effect, including regarding leave for pregnancy complications, maternity leave, paternity leave, and other types of leave granted to workers and their families as support to continue participating in the labour market.
Independent MP Clayton Bartolo, who had been kicked out of the Labour Party, was present at the event in the crowd.
PN, David Casa respond
In a Tweet on X in response to the Prime Minister's statement about the rule of law debate, PN MEP David Casa said: "The best way to protect Malta's reputation and attract investment? End corruption. Not debate."
In a statement later, the Nationalist Party said that "Robert Abela and the Labour Party have once again confirmed that they are in a state of panic and have their backs against the wall."
"Three days ago, they invented a lie that Leader of the PN Alex Borg, had gone to Brussels to somehow push for a debate against Malta's interests in the European institutions. Yesterday, they repeated this Fake News, despite knowing full well that this debate takes place every year and had already been scheduled long before Alex Borg's visit to Brussels."
"Today, the Prime Minister and Labour Leader once again repeated this lie, even going as far as to appeal to the Leader of the Opposition to stop the European Parliament from holding the debate. What Abela failed to mention is that this debate will only take place because it was agreed to by the European Socialists - the group to which the Labour Party belongs, and whose Vice President is none other than Abela's own Deputy Leader, Alex Agius Saliba. Robert Abela continues to repeat his own lies - lies that today no one believes, except Labour itself," the PN said.