Justice Minister Jonathan Attard said that Cabinet has decided to request to intervene in the PN-filed court case for the return of more than €400 million back to the state, through the reimbursement of the concession to the Steward hospitals.

Attard announced this in a press conference on Thursday, saying that the case is not only unsustainable, but it is “dangerous.” Attard said that the case is dangerous because it directly attacks our country’s democratic principles.

He said that Cabinet will be asking the court to allow it to intervene in a case filed by the Opposition against the State Advocate over alleged inaction to recover funds from the deal.

He said that the PN is “trying to obtain what it could not obtain through the democratic process by making use of legal manoeuvres.”

Attard explained that Cabinet has decided to request to intervene in the proceedings, having an active role in the case, “to protect national interest.”

He continued to say why government believes the case is dangerous, adding that the case prejudices Malta’s case in ongoing arbitration proceedings. Attard said that the PN-filed case serves to ‘aid’ Steward in the proceedings.

“He must answer to this damage,” Attard said referring to PN Leader Bernard Grech. Parliamentary Secretary for Social Dialogue Andy Ellul also reiterated Attard’s sentiment, saying that the PN is trying to politicise the courts.

Ellul said that the PN does not care about national interest, and in its attempt to “do anything to undermine government,” Bernard Grech is undermining the international arbitration proceedings opened by government.

He continued that through its court case, the PN is asking the court to exercise powers it does not have.

In a statement issued in reaction, the PN said that Prime Minister Robert Abela is continuing to show that he does not want to get the €400 million paid “for nothing” to Steward and Vitals back.

The party said that the government’s behaviour was such that it was attacking the PN for successfully getting back the three hospitals initially conceded to Steward on a concession basis.

The PN said that it will continue working to get the €400 million back, saying that Abela had taken no action to get this money back and even stopped the State Advocate from doing his job.

For its part, the Labour Party said the PN is only intersted in playing the political game and does not have the national intrerest at heart.

The PN is becoming "dangerous" to the country as its actions are endangering the action already taken by the government.

The PN's aim is to hinder the action that government has taken while persisting in the lie that the country paid €400 million for nothing, the PL said.