Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1253597
16 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 31 MAY 2020 NEWS polar.com.mt Understand your market MATTHEW AGIUS ADRIAN Delia has said he believes the PN will win the next election, as more voters become disillusioned with the cur- rent administration. In an interview on Net TV by Illum editor Albert Gauci Cunningham, Delia challenged the charge that he was failing to make headway as evidence by the polls, despite the numerous scandals which rocked the Labour government over the years. Asked whether he would resign if the PN lost the next elections by 30,000 vot- ers or more, Delia appeared optimistic. "I don't think we are going to lose. The country is going to go through great diffi- culty and will have to think of the future of our children. Now hard decisions have to be made, not just administration of the country. We are prepared to offer an al- ternative." Delia said the electorate was passing through a transitional phase, despite be- ing manifestly unhappy at the scale of corruption in the Labour administration. "It is strange that despite the corruption little progress has been made," Delia ac- knowledged. "Are the people happy with corruption? There is a transitory period for the opposition to rebuild its ties and support with the public. This doesn't happen overnight," he said. Delia sharply criticised the government for failing to act on corruption, pointing out that Keith Schembri and Konrad Miz- zi are still evading justice. "Mizzi and his friends robbed us, took our hospitals, our energy sources are paying for corruption, he employed people in the Tourism Min- istry who shouldn't be there, he dragged our reputation through the mud and jus- tice must be done against him according to law." Asked about the PN's dismal elector- al record under his watch, he said it was strange to see three large majorities for a prime minister who didn't complete two terms. "You have a situation where the excuse for everything, the surplus, which wasn't sustainable as it was done by in- creasing the workforce – short termism – and everything else was swept under the carpet." During the COVID-19 crisis, the num- ber of unemployed workers shot up by 22% to 11,000, he said. "Then the Prime Minister in a surreal and insensitive man- ner suggested that everyone go back to work. Where, exactly?" Abela asked. Delia once again pledged to scrap the Steward hospitals deal, and that he would tackle Malta's straining road infrastruc- ture by introducing a public transport system that works, as well as making Mal- ta the world's first carbon neutral coun- try. "The choice will be clear," he said. Delia also skirted a question on receiv- ing large donations from businessman Silvio Debono and others. "No contribu- tion exceeded that laid down in the law. Not one single person, company or indi- vidual. The PN rigidly followed the party funding law… No, the PN is not for sale and doesn't sell its principles." 'I don't think the PN will lose' – Delia "I don't think we are going to lose. The country is going to go through great difficulty and will have to think of the future of our children"