The party’s pledges: consistency and stability

From the start of the interview, Cassola made it clear that “the country is in crisis.”

“There needs to be a change in government. It cannot be that we continue to have scandal after scandal, overspending of every project, money that isn’t accounted for, and more.”

While he admitted that this is a common narrative used by other parties too, Cassola said that what makes Momentum different is “consistency.”

“In my 36 years involved in politics, people can say they’ve disagreed with me but you won’t find a moment when I’ve been accused of taking money or that I acted improperly.”

He pointed out that Momentum is needed because the Opposition Party is inconsistent.

They may not have stolen as much from the country or committed such an enormous scale of corruption like the Labour administration has, Cassola stated, “but you cannot have the a party that condemns corruption in parliament while its spokesperson defends the people being accused of corruption in court.”

“You cannot have a party that says they are in favour of protecting the environment, and then go insult residents by drinking champagne at the opening of DB group while the people are breathing in dust,” he continued.

Stability

In tandem with consistency, Momentum also pledges stability. He said that if the party were to win parliamentary seats they would vote against motions not in the public interest but in the favour of a powerful lobby but would, “in the next hour”, give the government its “trust” in a vote of confidence.

“Like this, the government will not fall, the country will keep moving but without the concession of Fort Chambray, for instance.”

This, the party would do for the sake of stability, “which is a myth in Malta.”

This is assuming that the government is not tainted with scandals and corruption. In fact, when asked whether, hypothetically, Momentum would vote to remove Robert Abela as Prime Minister he said “of course, we would’ve toppled him a while ago”.

Magisterial inquiry reform

Cassola went on to list multiple scandals that have ensued under the Abela administration before elaborating on the “disgraceful decision” to reform the law on magisterial inquiries.

He wholeheartedly condemned the indication that this reform would prohibit citizens from going to a magistrate and oblige them to go to the police commissioner to request an investigation into cases of corruption.

Cassola has no faith or trust in Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa, outlining moments when he went to him and former commissioners with proof major alleged scandals, including that of the Marsa Junction Project and one related to then-Identity Malta that he said is now being investigated in tandem with the most recent Identita scandal.

The Momentum leader alleged to have received a letter four years ago with details of a scandal that involved two (then) Identity Malta officials and two real estate agents. The officials were said to have sold citizenship and then directed the ID-buyers to these real estate agents who would then give the government officials commission on the property sales.

When he approached Gafa with the proof he acquired, nothing was done, Cassola said. It is now being investigated as part of a different Identita scandal involving the sale of thousands of ID cards in return for bribes.

“If it weren’t for this recent magisterial inquiry, this wouldn’t be investigated.”

Momentum has already launched a parliamentary petition against this

Construction and business

Cassola is known to be vocal against most major development projects in Malta, so we asked whether Momentum will be an anti-construction party.

He replied, no, he’s not against construction or business, he’s against an unlevel playing field. 

Cassola referenced the double standards of normal citizens and those with political connections in relation to planning permits, specifically using the decision to change local plans to favour the Villa Rosa development project as an example.

“It cannot be that someone can go promise something to the PN and PL and then they change an area for Malta without a care of the hundreds and thousands of people who live there?”

Abortion

Cassola has been clear about his stance against abortion for a while, having cited that as a reason he left ADPD, a party he founded.

“There are people in Momentum against abortion, like me, and who agree with abortion.”

However, he explained in that its statute, Momentum allows its members to vote as they please in motions related to moral issues, this includes abortion, euthanasia and more.

To learn more about the Momentum, watch the full interview on Lovin Malta’s YouTube channel.

What are your thoughts on Malta’s new third party? Do you think it has a chance at toppling the political duopoly?