Prime Minister Robert Abela has said that he hopes the PN will "respect the democratic process," when asked about the prison votes court case, while adding that until now the PL is not involved in the court process.
The Nationalist Party is taking court action after the Electoral Commission refused the PN's request to annul the early voting that was held at the Corradino Correctional Facility and is asking for a new election there to take place.
The request was made after it was revealed that prisoners who were ineligible to vote were allowed to cast their ballot in the general election.
The party is asking the court, among other things to annul the voting that took place at the Corradino Correctional Facility and to order a new election at the same facility with an emended List of Electors that excludes those who are disqualified from voting.
Abela was asked whether he will be opposing the PN's call for the Electoral Commission to annul the votes cast at the Corradino Correctional Facility and for a new vote to be held there. He was also asked about the news that some dementia patients were taken to vote without their relatives and how the government will tackle the situation.
Abela said: "The electoral process falls under the responsibility of the Electoral Commission, within which people who are trusted by both parties are appointed. I have complete faith in the electoral process. Regarding the first question, there is now a court process, both through a warrant of prohibitory injunction and a request before the Constitutional court. I hope that the PN will respect the democratic process."
Asked for his reaction to the Constitutional case, Abela said: "I have complete faith in the Electoral Commission as it is made up of members of both parties. I hope that the PN will respect the democratic process." He again said that the process is before the courts and that one must abide by the outcome to be decided by the courts.
Asked if the government will respect that decision, he said: "the government not only always respected the decisions of our institutions, but consistently saw how to strengthen them over these past two years as we truly believe in the democratic process."
Pressed and asked whether the PL will oppose the PN's decision to take action, he said that the PL till now is not a party in that process.