Everybody knows Jason Azzopardi's car number, according to Robert Abela. Most people don't even know their own car number, let alone Jason Azzopardi's.

Autocrats have always told lies, so Abela's recent whopper has precedent. Robert Abela knows he's lying. He also knows that everybody knows he's lying.  But that's exactly why he does it.  The message is simple - I lie because I can, and you cannot do anything about it. Abela's brazen lie is a declaration of unassailable power and a weapon of intimidation. Autocrats have always used intimidation so what Abela's doing is nothing new.

Day by day, week by week, Robert Abela's behaviour descends further into murkier territory.  His comments get more disturbing in their brutality.  His recklessness is intentional and his intention is to bully and intimidate critics.

In a country still reeling from the horrific assassination of Labour's arch critic, Daphne Caruana Galizia, broadcasting the number-plate on Jason Azzopardi's car has only one objective. Robert Abela is surely aware that his claim that "everybody knows whose it is" in reference to Azzopardi's number plate is entirely false.  Nobody knows the number to Azzopardi's car except possibly Jason Azzopardi.  And Manuel Cuschieri, Labour's propagandist, who publicised not only Azzopardi's number plate but also the site of his reserved parking place. Now thanks to Manuel Cuschieri, those planning to target Azzopardi know it too.

Azzopardi was given that reserved parking space close to his residence for his own safety after the police identified him as a high risk target.  Despite Robert Abela's malignant claims, nobody knew about it except the police who requested Transport Malta to provide him with that parking space. Nobody knew where Azzopardi lives except his trusted close friends and family. Now the entire nation does.  That's the last thing a high risk target needs.  But that's what he's got thanks to Manuel Cuschieri.

Publicising his number plate and site of his reserved parking space and residence was an act of intimidation and retribution against one of Labour's most vocal critics. Azzopardi must know why he's been given that reserved parking space - because there's a price on his head. It was intended to provide him some degree of protection by avoiding him having to walk any significant distance from his car to his home. Now that's all gone.  Broadcasting those details exposed Azzopardi to serious potential harm. And that's exactly why Cuschieri did it.

There's no two ways of looking at it. Azzopardi was given the parking space for his safety - Labour worked to expose him to danger. For Labour that's just what he deserves - retribution and reprisal for his vociferous denunciation of Labour's regular irregularities.

Prime Minister Abela was asked "do you condemn Manuel Cuschieri's behaviour?"  He didn't.  Instead he cynically tried to justify it:  "The vehicle number painted on the ground is there to be seen by everyone, it didn't have to be Cuschieri to reveal it".  "But he revealed who it belonged to," the journalist swiftly interjected.  "Everybody knows whose it is," came Abela's shocking lie.

Unable to contain his contempt for the man, Abela went on to make more unsubstantiated claims.   He accused the Police Commissioner and the police corps of giving Azzopardi "privileged" treatment. He claimed that Azzopardi was being treated differently from anybody else because he "screams a lot on social media and calls the Commissioner corrupt".

"I ask whether analogous cases were treated in the same privileged way," Abela commented, riling his supporters against Azzopardi. "These are all questions that society is asking - I too have a voice like anybody else and these are questions I ask," he added.

"It is good that society is discussing this and we should not stop the discussion.  I hope that nobody was given privileged treatment because he believes he is above the law," Abela stated.

Robert Abela knows that Jason Azzopardi is at risk.  But he doesn't care.  On the contrary he's done everything he can to rile the public against him and to make him more visible to his enemies.  He's incited them to question why Azzopardi should be given "privileged" treatment.

Nobody is surprised that Manuel Cuschieri descends to such depths.  But the Prime Minister?  His petty vindictiveness is nothing short of reckless. This is a man so vengeful that he is ready to endanger Azzopardi's safety by justifying the broadcasting of arrangements the police made to protect him.

Abela jeers and mocks.  Azzopardi is given special treatment because he "screams a lot on social media" according to the spiteful Abela. Azzopardi is getting privileged treatment because he insults the Commissioner calling him corrupt and believes he's above the law, according to our Prime Minister.

Abela's actions are calculated.  He wants Azzopardi to know that if it were up to him, Azzopardi would get no protection.  If it were him, he'd hang him out to dry and pay him back for all the trouble he's caused with his revelations of one Labour scandal after another. Abela is sending a message to anybody out there with a grudge against Azzopardi - we're on the same page, I too want to punish him for his big mouth, and he deserves it.

Abela's behaviour is not worthy of his office - it is indecent, unconscionable, disgraceful.  His words are not those of a democratic European leader.  They're not the words of a Prime Minister. They're closer to former Philippines President Duterte's. In 2016 Duterte commented: "just because you're a journalist you're not exempted from assassination, if you're a son of a bitch". There is something in common between the two leaders - their words constitute political persecution, plain and simple.

You may dislike Jason Azzopardi, you might find him bombastic and dramatic, you might disagree with his political views or commentary, but nobody should be subjected to public intimidation, least of all by the Prime Minister.

Jason Azzopardi can never feel safe with a Prime Minister like that.  You may not sympathise much with Azzopardi, you might even feel he deserves it.  But keep this in mind - the next target of the Prime Minister's thuggery might be somebody in your family.  It might even be you.