Opposition leader Adrian Delia railed against foreign workers in a brief speech on Friday evening, telling his audience “clans” of low-quality foreigners were frightening children and “making society poorer”.

Speaking at St Paul’s Bay – the town with Malta’s highest proportion of foreign residents – Dr Delia said the government had no integration plan and was content to import workers who had nothing to offer Maltese society.

“These are not foreigners of quality, who can teach us,” he said. “They’re practically slaves who make society poorer, not richer”.

He accused the government of relying on “foreigners” as a solution to its every problem.

“Pensions? Foreigners. Tunnel? Foreigners. The economy? Foreigners,” he said.

Dr Delia has regularly drummed up concerns about foreign workers during his time as party leader and used a Freedom Day speech in March to argue that “we are being taken over by outsiders”.

As well being the town with the highest share of foreign residents, St Paul's Bay also ranks, alongside St Julian's, Sliema and Valletta, as one of localities where most crimes are reported. 

Venice Commission

The PN leader also slammed the government for its decision to steam ahead and add six new members to the judiciary this week, despite the Venice Commission having recommended changes to the way in which judges and magistrates are appointed.

“They say they want to implent the reccomendations, but then appoint six more,” Dr Delia told supporters.

“This government does not care about justice or democracy”.
Dr Delia contrasted his party’s electoral campaigning with that of the Labour camp.

“The socialist party will do anything for power. We will not. We work for our country and for everyone,” he said.