Marlene Farrugia says coalition with PN still an option
Partit Demokratiku Leader Marlene Farrugia yesterday said that discussions with the Nationalist Party on the possible formation of a pre-election coalition are still ongoing.
Addressing a press conference this morning at Castille Square, right beneath the statue of Manuel Dimech, Dr Farrugia insisted that she intends to carry on with her intentions to form a new coalition which will include “all the genuine PN and PL supporters.”
Dr Farrugia’s declaration comes in spite of her criticism on the way the Nationalist Party was involved in the saga surrounding the development of the ITS site. The db Group, which landed the concession to develop the site, has called on the PN to return all donations after the party asked the Auditor General to investigate the land transfer deal.
When asked by this newspaper to say if a coalition was still on the cards, even after the whole db Group debacle, Marlene Farrugia said that this option is still on the table and that the discussions with the Opposition are ongoing. However, she clarified that an alliance would not be formed “at all costs”.
Dr Farrugia called on the government to ratify the law on the Standards in Public Life. She said this law has already passed through committee stage, however, the government seems to be determined to drag its feet and leave this law pending.
“Exactly a month ago the said bill was discussed in the Consideration of Bills Committee, although it has been on the parliament’s agenda, it has not yet been discussed in parliament. This law cannot wait any further, and should be brought to Parliament for discussion immediately.”
She also promised that if Partit Demokratiku is elected to form part of a new government, it will change the Party Financing Law so that the loopholes that exist are addressed.
Marlene Farrugia did not hold back from criticizing the current administration. “The Labour government has improved the economy but has reduced good governance to a new low. This country elected a socialist government to get rid of a party who for 25 years, dragged its feet on important laws, such as part financing. The PL had promised otherwise.”
Still, she explained, the “country is thirsty for good governance.”
Referring to the government deal with db Group for the acquisition of the ITS site in St Julians, the PD leader said the government should have made sure that the state gets the proper amount of money for the land in question. “It could have been used to fight precarious work or hospital waiting lists,” she added.