Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said on Sunday that there is no doubt Prime Minister Robert Abela did not want to see him elected as leader of the Nationalist Party last summer.

Grech spoke during a telephone interview on the party's media.

He was making reference to recent news that Prime Minister Robert Abela had reported Bernard Grech's tax issues to Tax Commissioner Marive Gaerty. This was followed by Grech challenging Abela to publish his own tax returns, saying that Abela used his position to try to influence the PN leadership election. The Prime Minister has denied having discussed Grech's taxes with Gaerty in any way.

"Today nobody has any doubt that Abela had a particular interest in not seeing me as leader of the party," Grech said when asked for his opinion on the matter.

He also made reference to the first cordial meeting he had with Abela when he was sworn in as Opposition leader, saying that while he approached Abela with pose and formality, the Prime Minister had other intentions in mind.

"Malta wants mature politicians who are not led astray by ulterior motives. People are tired and need more trustworthy politicians who are not focused on hindering other people's work but on bettering our country."

Grech was also asked for his reflections on 2020, to which he replied that, despite the troubles it brought about, "it taught me and all the people a lot of things."

He said that should look back at this year as a learning experience and see how Malta's behaviour and reputation can be improved. "There are people who suffered and some who died, but we also rediscovered realities we might have overlooked over the years such as solidarity, family time and caring for the lonely."

Looking at 2021, Grech said that this year will have to be the year of faith, as well as strong will.

"Words are just words, so we have to be factual and see where we were, where we stand and where we need to be. Some say that we have to be the best in the world, but it is not about that. It is about being better, about helping the most vulnerable, like those in poverty. This involves taking responsibility - everyone has to do so - and offering our help to better society."

He explained that things cannot simply just go back to business as usual as there are a lot of families who were and are still suffering. Instead, "we have to go back to the basics."

Asked to comment on his first 90 days of being PN leader, Grech said he looks at these days as important ones where the party laid down its foundations and can now start looking at the future with enthusiasm. "There is a lot of work we did which has not been seen yet, but will bear fruits in the future."