Opposition leader Adrian Delia on Sunday challenged Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to appoint a President “from the opposing camp”.
Addressing a political activity in Rabat, Dr Delia said the PN made taken such a step many years ago with the appointment of George Abela.
He said the PN had also voted in favour of Marie Louise Coleiro Preca’s appointment and hailed her efforts on the social front.
Ms Coleiro’s Preca’s term as president expires in a few months.
“The country needs unity. If you really love your country, appoint a President from the opposite camp. Send a signal of unity, Dr Delia challenged.
Turning to a recent study that analysed living conditions in 187 different countries, Dr Delia noted that the only positive results for Malta were about its climate, as this was “the only thing the government did not have control over”.
He said the report ranked Malta as the “biggest loser” in a quality of life index.
Corinthia Group 'give away'
Dr Delia had strong words about the government’s deal to “give land away” on the cheap to the Corinthia Group.
Rather than selling passports to fund a social housing project worth €50 million, Dr Delia questioned how many people could have been given a roof over their heads if land worth €700 million had not simply been given away to Corinthia.
He said the funds obtained by the government through passport sales paled in comparison to the reputation damage done to Malta through the scheme.
“The government has sold the very thing that makes us Maltese. It has sold what is most precious to us”, Dr Delia said.
The Opposition leader said that a PN government would reverse every contract that robbed the people and make those who had signed them pay, using all possible tools permitted by law.
A 'short-term' economy
On the economy, Dr Delia blasted the government’s short-term approach to economic growth.
He said the only plan the government had for sustaining this growth was by increasing the country’s population.
Malta was already one of the most densely populated countries in the world, Dr Delia said.
He said the government’s vision was for a cosmopolitan Malta with towers everywhere, with Maltese living in tiny spaces or underground.