Delia calls for 'face to face' scrutiny of public appointees

Politically appointed representatives and heads of regulatory bodies should be scrutinised during public “face to face” meetings, rather than behind closed doors or via emails, Opposition leader Adrian Delia said.

During an interview with Radio 101, Delia reaffirmed that the newly formed public appointment committee, which will be made up of one government member and two opposition members, was proposed by the PN for a number of years.

“If this consultative parliamentary committee is to safeguard people’s values, then it needs to follow European standards and procedures,” Delia continued.

The newly sworn in Opposition leader also lambasted critics of his first motion, which points out a difference in the definition of the terms “prospective parents” and “medically assisted procreation” in the Embryo Protection Act and the motion that grants leave to couples seeking IVF.

The motion objects to the law granting 100 days of vacation leave to lesbian couples and infertile women who go abroad to obtain gamete donation, maintaining that the definition of “prospective parent” should be limited to heterosexual couples.

Delia insisted that it is “absolutely not true” that the law is discriminatory; rather that scrutiny of the law is necessary to “ensure that the Government does not pass the law through the backdoor.”

“The Nationalist Party is not against the Government giving treatment to those who need it, but, without our amendments, we would have been in a situation where the Government would be assisting illegalities,” he said.

When asked about tomorrow’s budget, the former lawyer said that the surplus touted by the Labour party needs to be analysed.  Statistics and data are not enough to prove that the economic surplus is reaching the poor and vulnerable.

“What will Malta look like in 20 years?” he questioned. “Will it be a country where wealth is distributed to all levels of society?”

Delia also insisted that the role of the Opposition will not only be to criticise the government, but to better people’s quality of life.

“We cannot keep thinking that our role is limited to providing constructive criticism,” Delia said. “From our side of the room, we’re able to work on improving people’s lives.”

Delia also called for unity in the upcoming deputy leadership elections, saying that “above all, we must remember that nothing is greater than our party.”

Labour party: The new way is worse than the old one

Adrian Delia wants to worsen the lives of families in difficulties, The Labour party said.

"It is truly the case that the new way is worse than the old one," they said.