Delia calls for PM’s resignation, removal of police commissioner and AG

Opposition Leader Adrian Delia yesterday called for the resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, the removal of the current police commissioner and the removal of the Attorney General.

He was delivering a speech in Parliament, which was originally meant to be his response to the budget. “The budget is irrelevant,” he said, following the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, which he argues was a result of the country’s ‘failed institutions’.

While calling for a debate on the independence of institutions, Delia said: “Those who have been politically appointed should step down. This is the least you can do. It will not bring Daphne back, but this can at least serve as a message.”

Delia called on the government to shoulder political responsibility.

“If he (Muscat) wants the country to move forward as a normal country, then he should step down, because it was his party that caused the country to reach this state. I stand united with my parliamentary group when I tell you, you have to go!

“This government has ordered the police to sit outside the property of a farmer for two years (referring to farmer Ganni Attard), but failed to protect a journalist who was speaking out,” he said.

Delia said the PN will continue to speak up until justice is served.

When he was originally preparing his address, he said he did not consider that freedom of expression would be an issue. He said he was mistaken when he thought he can speak freely. “The Prime Minister failed to admit he is guilty of a failed government, of failed institutions, of failing to provide protection to those who were in need. He failed to protect those who were clearly a target of violence.

“I have never imagined that I would come here and, like Eddie Fenech Adami after the death of Raymond Caruana, say that this budget is irrelevant.”

Delia said he will not speak about the country’s economy, because it’s useless.

“We need to speak about our rule of law, not money.”

Delia said that Daphne showed everyone the power of the pen. He mentioned how her son, Matthew, declared that the scene he saw was similar to one of a warzone. Delia expressed his condolences to the Caruana Galizia family and told them that they are not alone.

Delia said he cannot speak about tourism, or on how to attract tourists to Malta, because Malta has become a centre of criminal activity. “Our country is not normal. It’s a war zone. How can I speak about tourism in such a dire situation?

“Daphne was a harsh critic of mine. But I was there when the PN protested against the forces which were trying to silence her. Winning an election with an even bigger margin than five years ago does not wipe the government’s sins clean.”

Delia listed the long list of serious corruption scandals in which the government was allegedly involved. He included the Panama Papers, Cafe Premier and others. Delia said the institutions did nothing when faced with all this.

“We cannot ignore all of this simply because the economy is doing well. What happened Monday is the culmination of a passive attitude. Our only agenda is justice. We need to repair the institutions and help them back on their feet. Our country woke up to a new reality. The people can now see and they will no longer be silent. The police force is there to protect the people not government.”

Delia said that the only people who feel safe in this country are the criminals. He said they are now comfortable enough to build wherever they want and kill whoever they like. “These are all things on which Daphne wrote.”

The PN leader said that even parliament has become a failed institution. Looking at the MPs on the other side of the house, Delia said, “you are all accomplices.”

“The Opposition will not be silenced. If anything, our voice will become even louder. We will be the voice of those who are being silenced, who are small. We are obliged to act now.”

Delia said that the government knows how to sell anything, including our citizenship. “Now, we have to deal with the sale of the human body.”

Delia delivered a press conference after the Parliamentary sitting. When asked by The Malta Independent about his drastic change in perspective over the journalist he called a ‘bicca blogger’ within the last few weeks, and his praise on her work with regards to the Labour Party, but his reluctance to even acknowledge the serious allegations tabled before him by Caruana Galizia, Delia said: “Irrespective of the many things that she said about me, I have always believed in the basic principle of free speech. We might disagree, but I will defend your right to say it. Debates and the courts are where you seek remedies to these things, not by blowing someone up.”

He would also deny that he was using rhetoric, insisting that the country and the party was angry and shocked by what happened and were making their voices heard.

PL reaction

The Labour Party sent a press statement after the speech, and said that instead of sending a message of national unity, “the opposition leader chose to use partisan rhetoric aimed at dividing the people in a moment that requires responsibility and maturity.”

The PL said that the country deserves better, and that justice does not occur through insults and baseless allegations.