Prime Minister Robert Abela said that he has never excluded the possibility of further investigations as well as a public inquiry into Jean Paul Sofia’s death, provided that the magisterial one would have been completed first.

Abela was interviewed  by MaltaToday’s Karl Azzopard in an activity organised by the Labour Party in Gudja on Wednesday evening.

Abela was asked about the complete U-turn government took in first rejecting the public inquiry, and then appointing it five days later.

He said that his position has always been clear, and he believes that the magisterial inquiry remains the only tool to establish who those involved in the Sofia tragedy were, and who must answer for their wrongdoing before the courts.

Abela said that he never thought the situation would come to this, that the magistrate in question has taken almost eight months and has yet to conclude the magisterial inquiry.

He said that ideally, the magisterial inquiry would be published, and if there were points that needed further addressing, then further investigations would be appointed, including a public inquiry.

“If it was up to me, the magisterial and public inquiry would not co-exist. I hope that the magistrate continues with her work if need be, through the night, tomorrow and the day after, so that next week, the public inquiry will commence,” Abela said.

He accused the PN of politicising the sorrow of Sofia’s family, and said that the last thing the PN wants is a solution to this episode.

Abela said that government has nothing to hide, and that the terms of references of the public inquiry are established to eliminate all doubt, and to find whoever is responsible to answer for their wrongs.

Azzopardi mentioned the episode in Parliament on the day of the vote, where Sofia’s family shouted at Labour MPs from the Strangers’ Gallery after they voted against.

Abela said that it bothered him that the Sofia family ended up in a situation where they had to protest. He said that whilst the family requested it, Abela never excluded the possibility of a public inquiry, but after the magisterial inquiry was completed.

“I will walk the whole road with them (Sofia’s family) to ensure full justice,” Abela said.

He was asked about the recommendations made after the public inquiry of murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, some of which have not been implemented.

Abela said that the PN is blocking government from implementing these recommendations, after government reformed the journalist sector by transforming the proposals into six strong legislative bills, including the anti-SLAPP bill.

He said that he was the first Prime Minister to introduce the anti-SLAPP legislation, but when presented to Parliament, even after a holistic public consultation, the PN said that government rushed, and that another public consultation was needed, leading it back to consultation.

On organised crime, Abela said that with one Cabinet decision, which was the presidential pardon for one of the men involved in Caruana Galizia’s murder, the Labour government ensured that all persons involved in the murder were charged.

Abela was asked if it was insensitive on his part to have gone on a boat day after the vote, to which he said that he works all the time, with his thoughts always focused on the country.

Abela said that he has appealed several times for the magistrate to conclude the inquiry, and it is unacceptable for any inquiry to continuously be extended after the stipulated 60 days.

Abela accused the PN of being inconsistent, mentioning PN MP Karol Aquilina who formally reported Abela and Justice Minister Jonathan Attard, to be investigated for appealing for a speedier conclusion by the magistrate.

“Which side is the PN on?” he asked, appealing for more efficiency.

Abela said the PN chooses when to favour a magisterial inquiry, as it says that the magisterial inquiry will be what is needed to reveal the truth for the Vitals’ inquiry, but it says the opposite for the Sofia inquiry.

He said that government is working on a reform which sees some magistrates who are responsible only for leading inquiries, again appealing for speedier inquiries.

Another reform being discussed is to ensure that the families of victims have the right to actively participate in the magisterial inquiry, following the fact that the Sofia family was not spoken to in the ongoing inquiry.

Asked if he would endorse the arraignment of former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat if the Vitals’ inquiry results against him, Abela said the institutions must be trusted, provided that they also make decisions based on facts and the truth, without any other considerations.

Azzopardi asked Abela whether Muscat’s declaration in favour of a public inquiry into Sofia’s death undermined him as a Prime Minister. Abela replied in the negative, saying that Muscat’s point was important, that the public inquiry should follow after the conclusion of a magisterial one.

“If the day before the vote, the results of the magisterial inquiry had come out, and some chapters weren’t addressed, I would have launched an investigation the next day,” Abela said.

Asked if he exited Castille from the front to provoke the crowd after the vigil, Abela said that had he exited from the side, he would have been accused of being scared and having something to hide.

Abela thanked Sofia’s father who told him that he would walk with him.

He was asked about the public’s collective frustration to ongoing construction development, to which Abela said that the country has faced a cacophony of challenges, and will not enter a phase to strengthen the economy.

Abela said that over the years, government may have raced too much, and population, traffic, and development are the three elements that need to be addressed, and discipline must be kept.

Asked about the Metro, Abela said that the studies into the metro are ongoing, as the country faces a growing challenge of traffic.

He said that the PN wants for fuel prices to be raised according to European standards, but Abela does not want that a car becomes a privilege for those who have money.

Asked about a concrete solution to address power-cuts in many localities due to heatwaves, Abela said that this is a long-standing issue which government will address by having dedicated €90 million over six years to strengthen the distribution of power around Malta.

He also said that electricity bills have been kept low so that air conditioning, which is a need in Malta’s climate, can be turned on.

He also said that he does not exclude compensation for lost food items due to the powercuts, which he will discuss with Energy Minister Miriam Dalli.

On construction, he said that the industry should not be completely eliminated, but must be sustainable and consider the aesthetics and screen scaping of Maltese characteristics.

Abela was asked about the infamous Bill 28, and why he ‘regressed’ and supposedly bowed his head to conservative forces.

He said that the principle that the woman’s health is seen to remained throughout, in both versions of the bill.

“The law is not as regressive as many think,” Abela said.

Abela also said that there is the need for an accelerated discussion on abortion, to address the approximate 300 women who do carry out abortions in the country.

“We must explain the realities and offer a road forward. I understand that society is not ready for the introductions of new laws. The bill was the first time the issue was addressed,” Abela said.

He continued that civil society and parties must join and discuss matter round a table, and that the country is very behind from achieving political maturity.

Azzopardi asked about former prison director Alex Dalli, and the allegations of inhumane methods in the prison. Now, Dalli works at the Migration Coordination Centre in Libya, and Abela was asked if this sends a message that persons who do wrong, take promotions.

He defended Dalli for reforming the prison from the drug problem it had. Asked if this is a case of ends justifying the means, Abela said that there were episodes where he would have done differently from Dalli, but ultimately his good work in Libya to address the situation of migration cannot be ignored.