Bernard Grech announces protest on Monday over Vitals inquiry

Opposition Leader Bernard Grech announced the holding of a protest on Monday, 13 May at 6pm in front of the Parliament building in Valletta, saying that there is a “democratic deficit” against the Maltese public and the Nationalist Party.

In an address to the nation on Thursday, Grech said that the country is going through an unprecedented moment, where serious criminal charges are being brought against the Deputy Prime Minister, the governor of the Central Bank of Malta, a Permanent Secretary, an ex-Prime Minister, an ex-Minister and more.

The charges include money laundering, corruption, and fraud, Grech said, adding that the country also has a Prime Minister who instead of seeking justice, resorts to dangerous attacks against the judiciary and the media.

He reiterated that Prime Minister Robert Abela has publicly declared that high public officials who have been charged will not need to resign. In addition, the Attorney General is refusing to publish the magisterial inquiry into the Vitals case and has chosen to give it to the Prime Minister.

“We have a Prime Minister who knows what’s in the inquiry and using the conclusions to attack the judiciary, media, and anyone who doesn’t play his song,” Grech said.

He added that the national broadcaster is losing case after case, yet is still a tool of censorship in favour of the government.

He continued that Steward Healthcare, who took over the contract from Vitals, has now announced bankruptcy, and there is the question of whether the millions which were “stolen” from the Maltese public will return in their hands.

Grech called for a protest next Monday, where the PN will again reiterate its call for the inquiry to be published, its call for Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne to resign, for Prime Minister Robert Abela to withdraw his nominee for European Commissioner, for the immediate resignation of Edward Scicluna from governor of the Central Bank of Malta, as well as the European Central Bank’s governing council, for Ronald Mizzi to resign as permanent secretary in the Ministry for Economy, as well as all those who still hold a public office.

Government must also declare what it is doing to bring back the €400 million which were stolen from the Maltese public in this deal.

“The PN has always been there to work in favour of the public. It is certain that the PN is not alone, it has the civil societies, student organisations, academics and constitutional corps, as well as the Maltese and Gozitan public,” Grech said.

“Your country is calling you. Answer your country’s call,” he said.