Adrian Delia: Some gutsy stands, but careless on migration

Opposition Leader Adrian Delia was very much in the news this week, having spoken on a daily basis at the Nationalist Party’s Independence activities on the Granaries.

Over the week, Delia delivered some powerful statements, showing that the PN has finally taken some very clear stands on issues it had previously been dilly-dallying with.

Delia was very clear, for example, on the Individual Investor Programme – Malta’s controversial golden passport scheme – pledging that he would remove it and replace it with something that is more respectable.

Malta keeps getting hammered about the IIP both locally and abroad. The issue was raised again this week by a European Parliament delegation that is investigating the rule of law in Malta and Slovakia. The committee chair said the main concern was the scheme was being used by people “we do not necessarily want in the EU.”

This newspaper has been consistent in its criticism of the IIP, especially where it comes to the dubious due diligence, lax regulations and the way it has contributed to the skyrocketing property prices. We had been chasing the PN for many months to see what the party stood on the controversial scheme but this was Delia’s clearest answer to date.

Acknowledging that some within his party are making money off the scheme, Delia declared nonetheless that he would do away with it, and introduce instead a scheme that attracts better investment.

Delia also came out against the db project, which was approved on Thursday. Speaking on Tuesday, Delia said the PN representative on the PA board would be voting against the project because, from the information he had, the project was in breach of planning policies.

Perhaps Delia should also have said that he was against the project because of its massive scale, and because of the unprecedented public opposition. Instead of just basing his argument on the merits of planning law, he should also have given some weight to the wellbeing of people who live in the area.

That is, in fact, what the Planning Authority was mostly criticised about – that it ignored the wellbeing of the residents, and the 4,000+ objections that had been filed.

Still, the PN did vote against the project, which is more than we can say for the government’s representative.

As expected, Delia spoke about the rise in poverty, with more and more cases of homelessness being reported. He also attacked the government for hijacking the institutions, and for entering a very shady VGH hospital privatization deal. Delia has taken the government to court over the issue.

He has also gone to court over the Egrant inquiry report – the Opposition Leader argues that, as the holder of a constitutional role, he should also be given a full copy. The fact that only his political rival – the PM – has a full copy, is leading to political imbalance, he argues. Delia, however, has not yet pledged to publish the report for everyone to see, like the Prime Minister has done. This report is a matter of national importance and both politicians should pledge to publish it.

Delia spoke about national unity, proposing that Independence Day should be the sole national day. Once again he insisted that the PN would safeguard the ‘national identity.’ Now, these speeches about national identity did not really go down well with a lot of people, particularly because Delia always speaks about the subject within the context of migration.

True, Delia is speaking about issues that genuinely have people concerned - migration, overcrowding, security issues and people living on the streets.

But perhaps he is not going about the subject in the best possible manner. In fact, his nationalist rhetoric might only help make those concerns even more concerning.

He is right in saying that the country needs a long-term economic vision, and that this tiny island cannot handle the influx of another 70,000 workers over the next few years. He is also right in asking for greater security.

But to allude that these problems have come about because of foreigners is not right – especially in a country where the word ‘foreigner’ automatically translates to ‘black migrant’ for many people.

The Opposition Leader cannot claim that the PN wants to save lives at sea, and then suggest that migrants are bringing about lawlessness.

His latest catchphrase is that “it is not safe to walk the streets under Labour”. While that statement is not likely to lose Labour many votes, it is very likely to add to certain people’s fear, dislike and hatred towards migrants.

Politicians need to be more careful with their words. Again, we are not saying that he should not address a reality, but he should avoid fanning racist flames, even if unintentionally. It will do society no good.

Delia also devoted a substantial part of his mass meeting speech on the PN’s past achievements, mentioning anything from power generation, the Freeport and the airport.

While the past should not be forgotten, most of the PN’s energy should focus on the present and the future.

It is good that youngsters today are aware that the country around them did not fall from the sky over the past five years. But Delia needs to realize that the success of the past will not sway voters towards his party today.

The PN’s past accomplishments were acknowledged at the time – in fact the party spent an almost uninterrupted 25 years in power. But then things changed, and the party needs to change too.

So instead of reminiscing about the PN’s golden years, Delia should be telling our youths how he is preparing an alternative government – one that has more long-term vision and lacks corruption.