The Nationalist Party has expressed solidarity with all journalists from the different newsrooms, "who earlier today were in the sights of intimidation outside the law courts."

The party was referring to the gathering of supporters for Joseph Muscat outside the law courts on Tuesday, who were present to cheer on the former leader as he faced criminal charges in court over the hospitals scandal.

The PN said that it always believes that journalism is an important pillar in our country's democracy and that is why the party feels they should be left to do their work. "At the same time, the party recognises journalists' valuable work for the truth to emerge, as it did in this case."

"It was only thanks to the work of journalists - work that started with assassinated journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia - that today we are getting to know all the facts about the corruption that led to the Labour government to giving Vitals and Steward €400 million from the people's money."

"The PN invites Robert Abela to, like Bernard Grech and the PN, express his support for the work of all journalists, particularly when, this morning, journalists were intimidated by his own party supporters."