Prime Minister Robert Abela has backed Roberta Metsola’s bid for President of the EU Parliament, however also took a political swipe at the candidate through his comments.

On Wednesday, the European People’s Party (EPP) will vote to select which one of the three nominees will become the party's sole candidate for the post of President of the EU Parliament. First Vice-President of the EU Parliament Metsola is one of the three.

Then, in January, the EU Parliament will choose who from the candidates of the different European Parliament's political parties will take up the role of President of the Parliament.

Prime Minister Robert Abela was asked by the press whether he supports Metsola, to which he said he does, but took a political swing at her while saying it. “If I had to work in a way that I would not support the nomination of Roberta Metsola, I would be working in the same way that she worked with regards to our country. As such the response is obvious, yes I support her.”

Abela is not the only person from the Labour Party camp to support Metsola.

Labour Party MEP Alex Agius Saliba had also said that he will back his PN counterpart in her bid to become Malta’s first ever European Parliament President. Agius Saliba said on social media that while he and Metsola had many political difference, he had promised her his cooperation and not interference for her candidacy for the prestigious post.