PN tables no-confidence motion against Miriam Dalli over power cuts

Opposition Leader Alex Borg and Shadow Minister for Energy Mark Anthony Sammut have tabled a motion of censure and no confidence in Energy Minister Miriam Dalli.

The motion calls on Prime Minister Robert Abela to seek her resignation or dismiss her from office.

The motion centres on the government's handling of recent power cuts, which the Nationalist Party said left thousands of households and businesses without electricity for extended periods during weeks of high summer temperatures.

The PN argued the outages represent a repeat of the electricity crisis experienced in the summer of 2023, when it had also tabled a no-confidence motion against the minister.

The motion also cites the findings of a National Audit Office report on the planning and investment of the electricity distribution network. The report identified serious shortcomings in Enemalta's planning and concluded that insufficient investment in the distribution network was the main cause of the electricity crisis.

The Opposition said the government had failed to plan adequately for the country's growing electricity demand despite significant increases in population, leaving infrastructure unable to cope with demand.

The PN also criticised Dalli for refusing to assume political responsibility for the failures within her portfolio despite the widespread impact of the outages.

The party argued that ministers should accept political responsibility when failures under their remit lead to a national crisis affecting people's daily lives and health.

The motion concludes by stating that the Maltese and Gozitan people deserve modern infrastructure, reliable electricity services and a government that takes responsibility for its decisions.

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