Prime Minister Robert Abela brushed off questions as to whether he would welcome Joseph Muscat back into the political fold, after the latter did not rule out a return to politics.

Former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat resigned at the end of 2019, amid protests taking place after it was revealed that Yorgen Fenech was arrested over the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. This had raised concerns due to the close links his office had with Fenech.

In a recent interview by the Times of Malta, Muscat did not rule out a return to politics, but said that he would not be on the PL ticket in the coming general election.

Fielding questions from the press following a press conference at Castille on this issue, the Prime Minister was asked whether he would welcome Joseph Muscat back into the fold.

“Joseph Muscat resigned from his post as prime minister and as an MP, so the position is crystal clear,” Abela said. 

Pressed by The Malta Independent on this point, to state what he would do should Muscat come forward in the future and ask to run as a candidate or for a post within a government entity, he described the question as speculative. “To my understanding, it was answered within the interview and I think that the subject is, for me, closed.”