Prime Minister Robert Abela on Friday said the reform regarding magisterial inquiries is intended to eliminate abuse and protect honest people against cruel attacks.

Interviewed on the Labour Party's TV station, Abela referred to criticism against his idea to reform the way magisterial inquiries can be called. The giovernment is reacting to calls for magisterial inquiries involving ministers and after a number of them have led to the arraignment of former top Labour officials, including former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

Abela said that in the last few days of 2024, there were attempts by certain individuals to try and wreak havoc on peoples' lives. He explained how members from the "extremist faction that calls the shots within the PN", and from the PN itself, take to the Courts to institute magisterial inquiries against people that they decide to target.

He said that this means that individuals would suddenly and unexpectedly find themselves the subject of a magisterial inquiry, disrupting their lives, and those of their loved ones, and having to spend ages in Court until hopefully one day the truth emerges, and "they are found innocent" and that the allegations that would have been made in their regard were fallacious.

Robert Abela said that Labour MP Carmelo Abela, Minister Owen Bonnici, and Cabinet Secretary Ryan Spagnol have all been through this ordeal. He said that this explains the need for a reform in magisterial inquiries, not to prevent justice from happening but to ensure that it is done. The Prime Minister referred also to reforms done by the Labour Government in the appointment of the judiciary, the Police Commissioner, and the Commissioner for Standards.

Abela said that those who do not abuse the justice system have nothing to fear but abuse of the system, for political gains, and in the process of ruining peoples' lives, must stop.

The Prime Minister referred to yesterday's press conference in front of the Police Headquarters and how this highlighted the need to take action to stop those abusing of the justice system.

Robert Abela said that NGO Repubblika's behaviour showed its double standards when a court judgment does not go their way. The Prime Minister referred to the close relationship between NGO Repubblika and the PN referring to the recent occasion when Jason Azzopardi was caught lying about Ryan Spagnol and that same evening he was hosted on the Nationalist Party NET TV.

Abela said that in the past five years, his government's focus on the economy generated wealth for all. He explained that having faced significant challenges in the past years, the government was now determined to address todays and tomorrow's challenges. He said that economic growth must ensure a better quality of life for all and said that Malta's vision 2050 was another important step in this direction.

Dr Abela referred to the news that inflation has dropped to 1.8%. He said that other countries chose austerity while our country, among others, subsidized the prices of gas, electricity, water, petrol and diesel that he said are sustainable, even though the Leader of the Opposition casts doubt about whether our country can sustain these subsidies. Dr Abela said that this attitude shows the big difference between the Government led by him and the Opposition.

The Prime Minister said that the Malta Labour Migration Policy, a first for Malta, shall address foreign workers and the challenges that this brings as well as workers' rights. He referred to changes made to temping agencies and Y Plates vehicles, which meant a decrease of 1,000 foreign workers in Malta. Robert Abela said that on this policy, the Nationalist Party was isolated since stakeholders were positive about it, except the PN.

The Prime Minister referred to how Malta is attracting further quality investment. He referred to Malta's booming tourism industry and that the country must now focus further on quality tourism.

Abela also referred to the investment that he inaugurated this morning in the aviation industry with the company Challenge Group investing in 6 cargo planes that shall be registered in Malta.

He announced that this coming week, the Birzebbuga Promenade Regeration project shall be announced consisting of five projects, new open spaces, and embellishment of the promenade. He recalled how it was a Labour Government that dismantled the fuel storage depot in Birzebbuga and said that similar plans exist for the locality of Marsa, which shall also be regenerated.