Delia’s debut
New Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia took the stage in his inaugural speech at the Granaries last night. Delia was elected as the party’s leader last Saturday
Newly-elected PN Leader Adrian Delia last night accused the Labour Party of having created a ‘soulless state’ which is attacking Maltese values, in a politically-charged and vociferous speech at the party’s Independence Day celebrations.
Delia, who spoke passionately throughout his address, called on Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to come out and defend matters of moral conscience.
“Give the free vote to all MPs both PL and PN, as we should have done, on laws that affect morals.”
He said the party has one direction, to stop the PL from attacking the values that make us Maltese, criticising possible proposals on surrogacy, the regulation of prostitution, and the legalisation of marijuana.
On the waste to energy scheme proposal, he said that PL has fooled the nation by pretending to be the party for the environment, while allowing a proliferation of overdevelopment and the swallowing up of public spaces.
He began his address by turning to his youth, he spoke of his involvement with the PN in the 1980s, when he learned that everyone has an obligation and a duty to do something to change the destiny of their country.
He also acknowledged that he will have to work for the respect of those who had not supported him in his leadership bid.
On the Malta’s Independence, he said to loud cheers, that the PN had always been on the right side of history, and praised the Maltese people’s love for country and for their Catholic faith.
“In tough times, the PN had never chosen the easy path, it chose the right one.”
Delia said that the country had one resource, its people: “And we were always capable of rising to the challenge.”
“The country is at a historic moment. This time it is not a fight against a foreign invader, colonialism, or for independence. What we have is a fight once again for good, for work, for justice; we have to fight against the corruption with more determination.”
Delia, who has faced serious allegations for journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia throughout the campaign, some of which he failed to adequately answer , said that, “we also have a battle against hate, the country is too small to fight amongst ourselves.
‘Where is the surplus?’ Delia says government benefits the few
The PN Leader used the address to attack the government and claimed that it did not serve the nation’s interests.
Delia said that precariousness is a serious issue that needs to be addressed, especially during a period of supposed economic prosperity.
“Where is the surplus? In whose pockets? In pockets of the few or the many?
“We need to find alternative solution to those who are on the outside of society. There is a new kind of poverty in this country.”
He said that corruption is affecting the people the most due to the weakening of institutions which serve them.
“If he really believes in transparency, he should show us the agreements that happened behind our backs!”
Criminality was all the rise, he said, while the government stayed talking about positive figures.
“Where is the government of the people? Where is the government of Taghna Lkoll? Where is the government of the Maltese?” Delia said that the PN will become the party that represents the whole country’s interests.
On the criticisms of the PN that it had been too negative throughout the previous legislature, he said the party had to change and become the party that represents the interests of the country.
“The opposition will fight a larger battle, not for itself, but for the Maltese population. This is a revolution in thought within the PN.”
He said that the government has failed in the educational field.
“Where is the surplus? Has anyone seen it? Are we building better schools? Are we improving the educational sector?
“Where are the new sectors in the economy? Where are the new initiatives? All the fields that are doing well and allowing the country to perform were all PN projects.”
Transport and infrastructure have been issues that have long plagued the country, Delia said that the government pretends that the country does not have an issue in these fields.
He said traffic is coming at a heavy price both economically and mentally.
“We need to look to the future for solutions, we need to be revolutionary,” Delia said, without mentioning any particular possible initiative.
He also took aim at Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi’s contingency plan for Air Malta, saying that the government does not care about the people and the proposal is practically telling unions to either follow its path or else it would start a new company.
Mizzi has made it clear in press conferences that the plan is the last resort, and is the only option when a company faces solvency.