The Nationalist Party stated Saturday that the appointment of former Labour Party CEO Randolph Debattista as an ambassador "is another case of how Robert Abela, because he is sinking, is ready to throw away the interest of our country to try deal with the internal troubles in his party."

"This appointment is a blow to many people in diplomacy, who are qualified, and who can occupy these very delicate positions," Beppe Fenech Adami wrote on behalf of the Nationalist Party in a statement published this morning.

The PN said that through this decision, Abela has thrown away his promise of meritocracy to serve his party's core.

The statement said that "Malta deserves much better" and that the country requires a change where the national interest is placed first - something that the Nationalist Party believes only it can do.

News broke yesterday that the now former Labour Party CEO and present Member of Parliament (MP) is to also resign from his latter position in order to become Malta's ambassador to Geneva.

Debattista was co-opted into Parliament in March 2022; his resignation as an MP means that a replacement must be similarly co-opted in his place.

Debattista resigned from his position as PL's Chief Executive Officer earlier this week on Thursday.