Prime Minister Roberta Abela "has a duty to explain what is going on" to the general public, following the Degiorgio brothers' pardon request, Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said on Tuesday.

Grech's brief address, which aired on NET TV, urged the PM to be transparent about the "criminals" that have formed part of the Labour government, both under the term of ex-PM Joseph Muscat, as well as Abela himself.

"We need justice with all those involved", Grech said. "It cannot be that everything continues as if nothing is going on. The Prime Minister needs to explain what he has done since he found out about the allegations".

Malta's reputation is being tarnished irreparably, Grech continued. "This is another episode that confirms that our country needs to turn a new page and close, once and for all, this horrible chapter of the Labour government".

The address comes after George and Alfred Degiorgio requested a pardon to President George Vella in return for naming a former minister who was a "mastermind" in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. The brothers' lawyer, William Cuschieri, also said that the brothers would also name a middleman "against whom no steps have been taken so far."

In parallel, Vince Muscat testified in court recently and made reference to a "big job" which allegedly involved former minister Chris Cardona - something which Cardona has denied - and an unnamed sitting minister. The identity of the minister has not yet been revealed.