Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Tuesday that he was not aware that a drone had been sent to film PN Leader Bernard Grech’s home.
He told journalists that any politician’s family life should be kept totally separate from the political role he plays.
On Monday Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said that Prime Minister Robert Abela had sent a drone to film his Mosta home. Grech claimed that “instead of answering legitimate questions from journalists, Abela ordered One News to invent a story about me.”
Video: Miguela Xuereb/Newsbook
The Prime Minister told journalists that he was to speak on television on Monday night about the “villa with swimming pool” that Grech built while declaring earnings of €6,000 a year.
Answering questions from The Malta Independent on the matter, Abela categorically insisted that he was in no way involved with the set-up of this drone.
Abela said that he did not even know anything about the drone and only found out after Opposition Leader made it public through a Facebook post, but “I will take his word for it.”
"If this actually happened, I not only condemn such acts, but I believe that family life should be kept totally separate from the political role one plays.
“I am of the opinion that, respect for family privacy is absolute,” Abela added.
Bernard Grech statement
"Prime Minister Robert Abela clearly indicated that he was investigating my property when exiting Parliament on Monday," PN Leader Bernard Grech has said. "This is on the same day my son and wife saw a drone flying low above my property."
"This is not the first time that the Labour Party, together with Pne News, used these oppressive methods whenever they find themselves in a corner. Over the past days we heard about the suspension of Orizzont editor Victor Vella, the Prime Minister saying he will boycott the Times and Karl Stagno Navarra filming journalists and attacking them because they were doing their jobs.
"Instead of hiding his hand, Abela needs to stop running away from questions and using oppressive tactics against journalists."