Mallia in favour of euthanasia, minister says ‘not everyone is qualified to speak’

The Nationalist Party’s newest and most outspoken candidate Salvu Mallia, has weighed in on the contentious euthanasia debate, proving himself to be at odds with the PN’s conservative side and also, inadvertently eliciting condemnation by foreign affairs minister George Vella.

Vella’s criticism of Mallia’s comments came after the former TV presenter insisted that euthanasia and abortion, both controversial topics which have elicited opposing arguments, should be “personal choices” and such decisions should not be regulated by the government.

I respect anybody's views on practically any subject, but not everybody is qualified to speak on abortion and euhanasia with authority.

— George W. Vella (@MFAMalta) January 8, 2017

“If I am suffering and want to die because I have had enough, why should some a**hole in Parliament decide whether I can do it or not?” Mallia, best known for his colourful language in politics, said during an interview with The Sunday Times of Malta.

“I am for euthanasia. I am for divorce. I am for gay marriage. I am for everything. Why? Because I do not think they are things that should be regulated by a government … I am against abortion but I think it is something personal and should be decided by the person, not by a government,” the outspoken Mallia said.

But no sooner than Mallia’s comments were made, foreign affairs minister George Vella, took a swipe at the PN candidate, arguing that “not everyone is qualified to speak on abortion and euthanasia.”

“I respect anybody’s views on practically any subject, but not everybody is qualified to speak on abortion and euthanasia with authority,” the minister said in a tweet.

Mallia’s comments, some of which recently drew a barrage of criticism by the Labour Party, have raised concerns within the party’s ranks while comments in favour of euthanasia belie the PN’s measured approach on the contentious subject.

However, notwithstanding Mallia’s threat to walk away if an attempt was made to silence him as well as attempts by “many Nationalists who wanted [him] to be thrown out”, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has stood up for the party’s candidate.

“Salvu Mallia said he would leave the PN if any attempts were made to silence him. However, this will not happen; the Nationalist Party will let him speak his mind. This is why the PN is good for people like Salvu because even if we disagree with you, we allow you say things without any fear of retribution,” the PN leader told party faithful on Sunday.

Muscat ‘an evil man’ - Mallia

During the interview, Mallia, who in his first address to the party faithful had said Joseph Muscat was “Malta’s worst ever disaster since the plague,” said the prime minister “is an evil man.”

“He [Muscat] and his two other cronies [Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi] are evil. They are not politicians. I would classify them as criminals because this was a planned takeover using all the weaknesses of democracy and the stupidity of the people, including mine and of Labour’s own supporters,” Mallia told the Sunday Times of Malta.

The former TV presenter also said that the PN has several shortcomings, and that when he spoke in a certain many Nationalists wanted him to be thrown out. Moreover, asked what needs to change within the PN to give back its past appeal, Mallia said that it is the PN itself which has to change.