Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1531177
2 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 8 JANUARY 2025 2 KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt THE Opposition will resist at- tempts by Robert Abela to limit citizens' rights to request mag- isterial inquiries, Bernard Grech reiterated today, calling the Prime Minister's behaviour "dic- tatorial". "This is the behaviour of a dictatorial government be- cause that is what the head of a mafia spider does to protect its own," Grech lashed out during an interview on the Nationalist Party's radio station, NET FM. The Opposition leader was reacting to Abela's comments on Sunday when he said chang- es were needed to the manner by which magisterial inquir- ies could be requested to avoid abuse. The Prime Minister's mention of abuse was a reference to the handful of magisterial in- quiries lawyer Jason Azzopardi has requested involving several ministers and public officials. Grech insisted the PN will op- pose any such attempt by the government, inviting all those who agreed with its cause to join it. "Had it not been [for Simon Busuttil and David Casa] to re- quest the 17 Black inquiry we would not be in the position we are today with a magistrate recommending criminal action against people who were part of the Labour government," Grech said. He added the po- lice failed to investigate the claims when they were first made and the Attorney Gener- al had advised against the sei- zure of Nexia BT's computers, insisting it was only thanks to a magisterial inquiry that crim- inal action is now being recom- mended. Grech insisted Malta need- ed a fresh start and this could not happen unless the govern- ment changes. "Robert Abela's government is the same La- bour government that allowed the country to be gripped by a criminal organisation," Grech said. "A new PN government will have the political will to take decisions so that Malta can heal and be born again," he in- sisted. Grech then invited everyone, "even those who believe the two parties should not exist", to join the PN and "speak with one voice". The PN leader said the com- ing Sunday's event organised by the Labour Party to cele- brate five years of Robert Abela at the helm was "a classic way of alienating people". Grech asked: "What will they be celebrating exactly? Is it five years of government obstruct- ing the PN from fighting to get back three public hospitals? Is it five years of preventing the Police Commissioner from in- vestigating corruption? Is it five years of allowing the clique to continue feeding off public funds?" Bernard Grech says Prime Minister is 'behaving like a dictator' by trying to limit magisterial inquiries Opposition leader Bernard Grech says PN will resist any attempt by Robert Abela to limit the people's right to request magisterial inquiries, insists Labour government is a criminal organisation Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech (File Photo) 25-YEAR-OLD Alejandro Brin- cat from Mtarfa has been iden- tified as the victim of 2025's first road fatality on Monday night. The police said in a state- ment the accident happened at around 9:20pm in Triq l-Mdi- na, Attard. Preliminary investigations showed the victim, who was driving a Mercedes car, lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a tree. The ve- hicle was stopped by a steel structure. Teams from the Civil Pro- tection Department and Ma- ter Dei Hospital rushed to the scene, but the victim was certified dead at the site of the accident. Police closed off the inner lanes as CPD personnel ex- tracted the driver from the vehicle. This is the first road fatality of the year. Magistrate Ian Farrugia is holding an inquiry while po- lice investigations are ongoing. On Tuesday, GasanZammit Motors Ltd paid tribute to Brincat who was an employee, as they said he will always be remembered as a "joyful and bright young man." "We would like to extend our condolences to his family, es- pecially his young daughters who he cherished the most." 25-year-old man who died in Monday late- night crash identified as Alejandro Brincat The car smashed into a tree and ended up against a metal signpost (Photo: Malta Police)