The Partiti Demokratiku said that it will be attending the protest organised by NGO Repubblika on Saturday 16 November, and will use it to also protest against PN leader Adrian Delia.
The PN said it will attend too, with the organisers saying everyone is welcome to attend, saying however that no-one will be allowed to take over the demonstration.
In a statement on its Facebook page, PD said our Republic needs to be protected from people like Keith Schembri who seem to think they can use their public role for personal profit.
We want all public officials and all holders of constitutional office to be accountable, and fit for purpose. This has been our mantra from day one.
We will not compromise on our vision. Our Republic is not for sale.
“This is why we will also protest against Adrian Delia on Saturday. He is not fit to lead the movement for change. How can a person who the press say is under investigation for money laundering offences be fit to replace Schembri and his puppets, who are also under investigation for money laundering?”
Delia seems to think that our Republic is a bandwagon he can ride. His track record in protecting the Republic is littered with inconsistencies. To this day, he continues to protect Konrad Mizzi, who also planned to do business via his Panama company with 17 Black. He refuses to move a motion of no confidence in Konrad Mizzi that we presented a year ago. By what measure is Delia choosing Schembri over Mizzi?
“On Saturday, we will stand united with all those who yearn for real change,” PD said.
Statement by Repubblika
The organisers of tomorrow’s anti-corruption protest welcome the fact that political parties have expressed support for our protest.
At the same time we remind political parties that this protest is a civil society initiative at which they should not seek to choke out the space citizens deserve to express themselves.
Parties should not seek to be protagonists in this occasion. Political parties are much more endowed than civil society with the means to express themselves – in Parliament, on media and so on – which is why civil society should be afforded the space to speek freely in the streets. We will take a dim view of political parties or individual politicians using this protest for their ends or to project their own disagreements.
We expect political parties help ensure good public order. As long as these basic principles are respected, we welcome all people of good will that despise corruption.
