Prime Minister Robert Abela did not provide any dates when asked when a White Paper regarding media reforms that was promised will be published.

Abela said that he had just consulted the Justice Minister on the matter as he is not happy with the time its taking.

"I am totally in favour of the journalist," Abela said, and fears that should an incident occur in which a journalist is targeted he would "feel remorse" because the reform had not been implemented.  The reason for lack of implementation, Abela said there were a few who did all they could to prevent government from presenting the bill in parliament so much so that there was a "clear threat" to totally undo the process and surround it with unnecessary controversy.

Abela called upon journalists to be more pro-active and raise their voices to help speed up the implementation. 

Proposals had been drawn up by a committee of experts regarding the media reforms, which included, among other things, anti-SLAPP legislation. The Committee had been established to come up with proposals on how to implement the recommendations of the inquiry into the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. It was also given additional tasks of reviewing a number of pieces of legislation the government had put forward.

Feedback from the committee was initially handed to the government, following which the government published three bills which it said were based on the committee's recommendations. Journalists and editors had responded that they had not been given the opportunity to speak up about the sector before the bills were put forward. The PM had sent the bills back to the Committee to discuss them and also to hold a public consultation. Since the committee presented its report, and the Prime Minister promised to draft a white paper.

Responding to a question on whether or not he agreed with President Myriam Spiteri Debono's statement that the media should be made the fourth pillar of democracy, along with the Judiciary, Legislature and Executive, Abela saw it as a crystallization of the media.

He said that the current three constitutional pillars of democracy are co-dependent in that whilst they have obligations and responsibilities, they also regulate the other pillars via checks and balances. He said that for every new pillar, or even principle, there will once again be obligations and responsibilities as well as checks and balances.

Quoting the President, who said that the recommendations made by the Public Inquiry following the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, have yet to be implemented, Abela said that there is a drive towards journalism and that he himself is the most in favour of their implementation.

Abela said government's Anti-SLAPP proposal was drawn up prior to the EU directive. However, he said that they were held back as they had to go to the committee multiple times. He added the directive must be implemented and as soon as possible. Abela went on to list other initiatives that are "precursors" or "catalysts" to the media being introduced as the fourth pillar of democracy, such as the procedure on a journalist being threatened and the question of continuation of libel cases should a journalist pass away before their conclusion.

Abela said that government wants to implement these initiatives and if it is to be a fourth pillar it must have safeguards like the others.

The Prime Minister was also asked about the Constitutional Convention, an idea which had been mentioned for years, but never came to fruition.

He said that in 2020, the government made a "constitutional revolution" by updating the 1964 constitution, which served us well, and changing the way the president is selected.

Government gave up some of its power, Abela said, more so, since no anti-deadlock mechanism was introduced.

He mentioned reforms in the selection of the judiciary,  and added that after 2020 the Attorney General's office was split into the Attorney General and the State Advocate, a new office, whom the government consults. 

Abela said the President is not prejudiced for questioning if more reforms are necessary. He said that government, under his leadership, will continue to make changes that will lead the country forward. He added that he wishes to continue working with the President.

The 2020 reforms were "very ambitious" and couldn't have been done without the help of the Opposition.