PM wants to remove crucifixes and send our children to war – Delia

PN Leader Adrian Delia yesterday warned that the government’s proposed constitutional reform shows that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat wants to “remove crucifixes from classes” and that he “wants to send our children to war”, instead of facing the serious issues facing the country’s institutions and the rule of law.

During an interview on Radio 101, Delia explained that proposed constitutional reform was a cause for concern given that it appeared that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat would like to remove religion and the clause of neutrality from the constitution.

“He wants us to remove crucifixes from classes; he wants to send our children to fight. This is purely a political exercise in populism. He should show the constitution respect, and do what needs to be done and strengthen the institutions and rule of law, as we have been saying for months,” Delia said in what can be seen as an attempt to speak to Malta’s conservative Catholic roots.

VGH and AUM

Delia also faced questions concerning the industrial action called by the Medical Association of Malta, describing the concession granted to VGH as the “largest theft ever in Malta,” Delia called on the government to rescind the deal and take back possession over the three state hospitals.

“VGH was built to fail by Konrad Mizzi so someone could make millions off the back of the population.”

Referencing the doctors’ strike, Delia said that, “instead of fighting with doctors, educators, nurses, social workers, the government should be investing significantly in these sectors.”

He also criticised Steward Healthcare System, describing the company as a “profiteer of sickness” whose profit-centric values run directly contrary to the social democratic values of Maltese doctors, “who always put cure first”.

Turning to the continuing issues with the American University of Malta, Delia said that much like VGH, an individual with no previous experience in the field was the behind the project.

“With this government instead of talking about these important subjects, such as health and education, we talk about corruption, about suspicious land speculation.”

He said the project was “cheap” and negatively affected the Maltese education system and the University of Malta

Shadow Cabinet reshuffle

Facing questions concerning the PN’s re-shuffle, Delia said that the goal was to utilize the individual capabilities of the parliamentary group to bring the party closer to the electorate.

“The pillars of good governance and the needs to people are central to this reshuffle,” he said.

He also praised the portfolios he introduced, particularly the portfolio dedicated to constitutional reform (Chris Said) and the portfolios dedicated to addiction (Maria Deguara), mental health (Mario Galea) and obesity (Ryan Callus).