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The government should have given more direct aid to families, rather than focus on the economy only, Opposition Leader Adrian Delia said on Saturday.

During an interview by News book editor Sylvana Debono on Net TV, Delia was asked what he would have done differently than PM Robert Abela.

The PN Leader said he would have acknowledged the current situation as being a national emergency right from the start.

The government, he said, should have done more to help struggling families and the 11,000 people who are currently unemployed. “Shouldn’t we at least give them direction and hope? Should we not put their minds at rest by telling them how their lost jobs are going to be recovered?”

Malta has to strengthen its economy without ruining its reputation, he said, but the Deputy Prime Minister has already admitted that Malta’s reputation abroad has been damaged almost beyond repair, he said.

He criticised the government for turning the Public Broadcasting Service into a state broadcaster. The PN, he said, would put forward constitutional amendments to ensure that the top PBS officials are truly autonomous and independent.

While the government enjoys wide media resources, it is also drowning in scandals, he said.

“Today’s scandals make you forget about yesterday’s.”

He referred to the recent claims emerging from the courts, as well as the hospitals and Electrogas deals.

Millions are being squandered on direct orders given to friends of friends, he said, adding that this money should be used to help struggling families.

“We are giving €90 million a year to Steward Health Care and we’re getting nothing in return. We will be giving them €2 billion over the next 30 years – that amounts to €250,000 every day.” The money, he said, could have been used to help more families, and send out more vouchers.

Asked about the dismal survey results, Delia said the PN had been in power for so long that there was a mentality that the party had a right to govern. “We do not have a right to govern, we have to earn it.”

Delia also spoke about the PN’s restructuring exercise, saying that the party is in the final stages of updating its statute.

The PN, he said, wants to go back to its roots and draft policies “by the people for the people.”

Told that the PN has been saying this for a number of years, Delia insisted that this was now happening with facts, not just talk.