Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/893950
maltatoday SUNDAY 29 OCTOBER 2017 6 News FREEZE A PORTION OF YOUR LOAF BEFORE IT GOES STALE www.dontwastewaste.gov.mt PAUL COCKS THE growing dissent towards Na- tionalist leader Adrian Delia be- came more evident on Friday when only a mere handful of MPs turned up for a parliamentary group meet- ing to discuss Monday's debate on the rule of law in Malta. Only 13 MPs out of 28 attended the meeting at the PN headquar- ters in Pietà, with notable absentees including outgoing deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami, Claudio Grech and Marthese Portelli. Three of the four MPs contesting the upcoming deputy leadership election – Edwin Vassallo, Robert Arrigo and Toni Bezzina – also did not attend. Delia last week frequently criti- cised the government for not sus- pending normal parliamentary proceedings – currently debating ministerial allotments in the 2018 budget – to discuss the state of the rule of law in Malta in the aftermath of the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, killed in a car bomb on 16 October. In a surprise move on Friday, the government representative on the House Business Committee said the government would be presenting a motion so that parliament would debate the matter throughout the day on Monday. Delia has denied there is a rift within the parliamentary group, although sources have confirmed some MPs are considering asking for a vote of confidence in the lead- er. If the rebel MPs manage to se- cure the backing of at least 15 of the 28 MPs, Delia could end up losing his position as leader of the Opposi- tion, while remaining party leader. But in doorstep comments on his way in to Friday's meeting, Delia told MaltaToday there was no need for the parliamentary group to call for a vote of confidence because there was "no sign of a lack of confi- dence" in him within the group. The divisions within the PN par- liamentary group became more ap- parent on Thursday night during a rowdy meeting of the PN execu- tive, which includes some MPs and members of various PN organs and delegates. Delia told executive members that he could not attend Sunday's mani- festation in Valletta that demanded justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia, because of "family commitments". Delia had first confirmed his pres- ence in the demonstration, only to pull out at the eleventh hour after it became apparent that PN MPs were not ready to walk next to him. Delia had been at the centre of criticism on Caruana Galizia's blog during the summer months and had also filed five libel suits against the jour- nalist. PN deputy leader Mario de Mar- co told executive members the PN was becoming irrelevant, with the lead on the protests in the wake of Caruana Galizia's murder taken up by other groups. In a clear dig at Delia, the other deputy leader, Beppe Fenech Adami said the party could not go as far as it should because "of the current situation" – a reference to reports on Delia's past work for a client con- nected to a London brothel, which Caruana Galizia and MaltaToday had written about. Following Fenech Adami's state- ment MPs Kristy Debono and Her- man Schiavone defended Delia and called for unity. Former MP Jean Pierre Debono, who gave up his seat in Parliament to make it possible for Delia to get his, accused the rebel MPs of being "hypocrites", screaming at the dis- senters and accusing them of leak- ing stories to MaltaToday. Debono was backed by Sliema councillor Pierre Portelli and entrepreneur Andre Grech. Delia snubbed again by MPs absent for strategy meeting Majority of Nationalist MPs absent from parliamentary group meeting to discuss strategy ahead of Monday's House debate on rule of law Adrian Delia insists there is no rift within the PN's parliamentary group CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The sur- vey revealed that a deputy lead- ership tandem of Robert Arrigo and David Agius seem to be the strongest combination, with ho- telier Arrigo getting the approv- al of as many as 67% of paid-up members. The respondents were also asked to rate the various in- stitutions and national leaders following the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia. The media was rated positively in their coverage of the event and its aftermath (65%), while Opposition leader was rated positively by slightly less re- spondents (63%). As expected the bottom rungs of the rating were occupied by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat (30%), and Commissioner of Police Lawrence Cutajar, who averaged an abysmally low 15%. This is possibly indicative of a general mistrust in the institu- tions, as well as misgivings on the PN's own party leadership, which currently permeates across many loyalists. The respondents were also asked to state the main chal- lenge the PN is currently facing. 38% of paid-up members indi- cated party unity as the most challenging issue, followed by 17% who think "bridging the electoral gap with the PL" is the party's major issue. Another 8.5% list Joseph Mus- cat as the most serious challenge for the PN, and 7.3% said that PN party leader Adrian Delia is the PN's major challenge. Respondents also mentioned the "establishment" (13.8%), party credibility (7.3%) and lack of vision (9.7%) as other factors. The PN's own dire party finances did not feature as much of a challenge for members, with just 2.6% mak- ing a mention. PN members likely to choose Arrigo- Agius tandem MASSIMO COSTA THE Civil Society Network has announced five speakers who will address crowds attending today's second national demonstration for justice, which will start at 4pm at the Ghar id-Dud/Chalet area in Sliema, and will march on towards Amery Street, Sliema, close to Daphne Caruana Galizia's child- hood home. Jacques Rene Zammit, Jurgen Balzan, Andrew Borg Cardona, Claudia Taylor East and Josef Vella are scheduled to speak at the rally, with people being invited to bring whistles as well as bay leaves, which symbolise strength and courage, with them. The network is emphasising its non-partisan demands for the Po- lice Commissioner and Attorney General's resignation, to be replaced through a 2/3 parliamentary major- ity. It is also highlighting the need for constitutional reform. Meanwhile, the network has also launched a "We Are Waiting for Justice" timer, which marks the days since Caruana Galizia was murdered without any of the resignations it called for having taken place. Yesterday afternoon, OccupyJus- tice activists sent a letter to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, saying that they had been camping outside Cas- tille since Thursday, both in solidar- ity with Daphne Caruana Galizia's family, and also because they were requesting the resignations of Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar and Attorney General Peter Grech. Moreover, despite the Prime Min- ister having decided to ignore them, they said, their fight for what is good, for justice and for a more equal soci- ety would continue. "This is our nation, this is our home. We are people," they added. Civil Society announces speakers for today's second demonstration, insists Police Commissioner, AG should go