‘We will continue fighting corruption as from tomorrow’ – Adrian Delia
New Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia yesterday evening pledged that he will continue to fight against corruption as from today.
In an interview with PBS presenter Peppi Azzopardi, in his first official public appearance following his election, held at the Floriana Granaries, Delia stated that he will fight corruption continuously.
After being asked by Azzopardi whether he will continue Simon Busuttil’s fight against corruption, Delia said: “We will definitely continue what we started. We want politics which works on strength, integrity, and fighting against corruption every day. We will not stop for one minute, from tomorrow morning, defending our country against corruption.”
Dr Delia was referring to the Panama Papers ruling. “If there is an opportunity to go, I will go to give a clear message that this message against corruption is not going to stop; rather, it’s going to get stronger and harsher,” he exclaimed, to a standing ovation from the crowd of supporters.
“I am not saying this to win votes or for some election,” he said, “but this is needed for our country. We have institutions which have stopped doing what they are supposed to be doing. We need to ask ‘what is giving us peace of mind?’”
‘Government won’t dictate the agenda of the Opposition’
Referring to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s request yesterday morning inviting him to reverse a decision on the waste strategy committee, Delia said: “I want to make a point about this now – it’s not the government who is running the agenda of the PN.” “This morning Prime Minister Joseph Muscat invited me. The government is not going to dictate the agenda of the Opposition. They can see what discussions they want in Parliament, but they don’t have the power over the agenda of the Nationalist Party, and if the party takes a decision, that means that not just one person has taken that decision, but the party as a whole, and that decision is the final decision.”
“This invitation was issued today, even though we have not met in Parliament yet. As the PN we have a democratic process; my style is not going to be like Joseph Muscat and PL, where one or two people make a decision, but we believe in the democratic process and for all the decisions we make, there must be an internal process where thoughts and opinions are discussed and a decision is finalised by everyone together,” he said, stating “that is how things are going to be!”
“So far the track record of the government is not a participative one,” he said. “Contracts are not shown or are blacked out... Imagine this in the process of rebuilding the Constitution.”
“I hope the government knows that the PN are here serving the environment, the children, and the future generations; we are ready to participate and talk and find solutions, but not only in the way the government wants.”
Seat in Parliament
Regarding a seat in Parliament, Mr Azzopardi asked whether it was something decided before. “They began before and are ongoing, but it would be imprudent for me to speak about it now.” He said that he expects to announce the conclusion of the agreement in the coming days.
Public allegations
Regarding public allegations against him by Daphne Caruana Galizia in the run up to the elections, Mr Azzopardi asked the new leader whether he would be ready to go in front of the Ethics Committee. “Let me make it clear, they are not allegations,” said Delia, “they are stories written by one person used in an economic model of business where, as long as the story lasts, more people will see it, If the committee of ethics or whichever committee, thinks there is one thing they want to investigate. I will definitely go under scrutiny, to give context, this is not something that has to do with me, but a client of over 18 years ago.”
When Mr Azzopardi replied that there are still people who are sceptical when it comes to these allegations, Dr Delia replied “these people have believed what she says for the past 30 years.”
He said that he knew of people who had given information to Caruana Galizia about the case regarding his allegations but she did not publish this.
Prostitution, marijuana, public holidays
Mr Azzopardi went on to ask Dr Delia about his political thoughts and beliefs. Regarding prostitution, Dr Delia said that he believes that each person should be treated with dignity, and the newly proposed concept would be commercializing it. “It would be putting a price on the body of people, I don’t believe in this,” he said. “With one voice, PN will not agree with this, if the law is going to propose some form of protection, then we will see the law and see what it is proposing.”
Asked about his view against recreational marijuana, Delia repeated his belief that he thinks legalising recreational marijuana would be not “a personal choice” but would affect the family, friends and society at large. “There are psychological and medical effects of which there is a lot of research ...I’m speaking to people who are qualified regarding this in question,” he said, adding “if the war of drugs has failed, we improve the law around it, not justify drugs.”
Regarding the discussion on ’making up for’ public holidays which fall on the weekend, Dr Delia said “it would be imprudent to decide without seeing with unions and the government. It is easy to say yes, everyone wants more holidays, but we need to see if it is sustainable.”
Chris Said ‘will be with us, all hands on deck’
Asked whether he has had contact with Chris Said since his close defeat, Dr Delia said that he spoke to Dr Said when the result was clear and Dr Said called him to congratulate him. “We arranged to call each other the next day to see how we are going to work together,” Delia said.
“I think Chris Said is competent, experienced, intelligent and needed by the party and I am sure he is going to be with us, all hands on deck, to help in the party,” Dr Delia said.
Asked by Mr Azzopardi whether he will be deputy leader, Dr Delia said he can prepare himself for the eligible post but there will be an election. “I believe in the democratic process.” He added that the Nationalist Party’s work at being democratic was successful.