Delia will not be present for tonight’s meeting of PN administrative committee
● ‘We will be discussing situation, not what action to take against him’ president
PN leadership contender Adrian Delia, who is battling allegations of money laundering, made by blogger and journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, will not be present for today’s meeting of the PN Administrative Committee, but the group would definitely not take any action without summoning the Birkirkara lawyer, its president said.
Contacted by The Malta Independent yesterday, Karol Aquilina clarified that the administrative committee will not be discussing “what to do with Delia or what action should be taken against him.”
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday morning likened the situation of the PN leadership race to watching a film he has already seen, saying that the “tricks” are ones he experienced during the general election campaign.
Speaking live in a phone interview on One Radio, Muscat gave his comment regarding the leadership race – which officially started on Saturday with early voting and continues next Saturday.
“We used to say a few months ago that the party was a coalition of confusion,” said Muscat, adding that “the more time passes the more time this is proving to be true.” He continued that Busuttil kept his part together by “using the illusion that he could win the election.”
“The tactics being used in this campaign between contestants are the same tricks that we saw throughout the electoral campaign,” he said. “It’s as though I am watching a film that I have already seen before, and that I have experienced. I feel I’ve already lived it.”
“I hope that the Nationalist Party makes its decision, because the country needs an Opposition and to start creating discussions with the Opposition straight away,” he said.
“As a government we have continued to go along with our work, not only becoming stronger but improving the lives of people,” he said. Muscat listed social housing initiatives and addressing corruption in sports as work they have implemented of late. He added that in the coming week new initiatives will be introduced.
“Many people are experiencing the strength of the economy, however we need to target those who are not,” he said. He said that rent subsidiaries and an increase in pension will soon be introduced, adding that “this government is the first to increase the pension for three years in a row.“
The PM also spoke about the controversial proposal, by the Malta Employers Association, to make the first day of sick leave unpaid. The proposal has been blasted by all major workers’ unions.
Muscat said he would never accept reducing workers’ rights.
Although the economy was doing well there are still people who find it difficult to get by with their pension, he said, and the government will be increasing pensions for the third consecutive year. The government is also working in the high rent prices, he said.
He also referred to the news that credit rating agency DBRS had confirmed Malta’s A rating, adding that the Labour Party was the only political force capable of solving the country’s problems.