Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1511356
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 NOVEMBER 2023 9 INTERVIEW The following are excerpts from the interview. The full interview can be found onmaltatoday.com.mt as well as our Facebook and Spotify pages. Will Bernard Grech as prime minister halt the importation of foreign workers? I don't blame the foreign workers, they are being invited to Malta, they are being asked to come to the country, they are being invited by the PM's poli- cies, and so they are not to blame. They are being abused and we have mod- ern slavery. We are saying that the economy can grow at the same rate or even better, without growing the popu- lation, without destroying the environment, without continuing to worsen peo- ple's quality of life. We will reverse the problem and go for an economic model which improves everyone's lives. Should government have resigned en masse following the Court of Appeal's decision on the hospitals privatisation deal? You had widespread abuse. Government lost the au- thority to govern. They have no right to continue governing because they are not seeking the coun- try's interests, and they continue to do so, because government continues to defend Vitals and Steward by saying the €400 million were given for services. They continue to defend their interests. They should answer for their actions. It is clear that they should resign, they betrayed their country. A trend across all sur- veys is the lack of trust in you as a leader. In Malta a leader's success traditionally translates into success for the par- ty. How do you plan to reverse this trend? My trust rating is getting better and better. Can it be better? Without a doubt, but I am not focused on myself, I am focused on the party and the country, and I will continue to work in their interest. During last year's Gen- eral Council you said the PN has a debt of €32 mil- lion and did not exclude any radical moves to ad- dress the issue. What is the PN's debt situation today? What I had promised I am carrying out. We have on- going projects aimed at addressing the party's fi- nancial situation. I will also be in a position to issue up- dates on the party's financ- es in the future. Do you have a time frame? Not now, as it depends on certain technical factors. Roberta Metsola pre- sents a conundrum for you personally. She is the PN's star MEP can- didate, but she is also touted to take your post as party leader. Does this bother you? We need to appreciate that we are a unified team, and don't compete against each other… Metsola is not only European Parliament Presi- dent, but an asset not only for the PN but also for the country, and we have to ap- preciate these qualities. People should admire her; how can you not? I have no doubt she supports my leadership. PHOTO: JAMES BIANCHI / MALTA TODAY