President must use his powers to force PM’s immediate resignation – Delia

The President of the Republic must use his powers, given to him by the Constitution, to invoke the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Opposition Leader Adrian Delia said last Thursday.

Speaking on the PN media, Delia said that in court testimony, the country learnt that Keith Schembri, who served as OPM chief of staff, is being investigated in connection with the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

This links the PM’s office directly with the murder, and Delia said this is the most intolerable situation in a democratic country.

The PM should leave now, he said, and if he does not, the President must use his powers to make him go. Delia said that Article 85 of the Constitution gave the President the power to start the process of removing the Prime Minister.

There is a need for action to be taken against a Prime Minister who retains his seat even after 84 per cent of European Parliament members voted for him to leave on

Wednesday, and this without knowing what was to emerge in court today.

The deputy prime minister and Labour MPs must also show signs that they really mean what they say when they speak about the importance of rule of law.

President says he has no power to remove PM

The President said that the Constitution does not give him the power to remove the Prime Minister.

President George Vella was replying to Opposition Leader Adrian Delia, who requested his intervention to remove the Prime Minister.

In a statement, Vella said that he has always abided by the Constitution and has operated within its parameters.

After seeking legal advice, Vella said that the articles mentioned by Delis do not give him the power to remove a Prime Minister who enjoys the trust of the majority of the House of Representatives.