Prime Minister Robert Abela on Sunday continued his defence of the controversial magisterial inquiry reforms the government had proposed.

Speaking during a Labour Party event, Abela said that the government proposed a reform to "strengthen good governance, and above all to strengthen the rule of law."

"Abuse of justice is the greatest enemy of the rule of law, and the strongest evidence of the need for this reform has been given by the extremist forces of the PN," Abela said.

The Prime Minister referred to PL MP Carmelo Abela's speech in Parliament and the suffering and struggle his family went through "when a false report about him was made." Former PN MP Jason Azzopardi had implied in a post on social media that Carmelo Abela had provided assistance to the robbers who had carried out the 2010 HSBC heist, although he was not named in the post.  Abela filed libel proceedings over the allegation, which he won last September, with Azzopardi condemned to pay €7,000 in libel damages.

Carmelo Abela spoke about the martyrdom they put him through until he cleared his name, the Prime Minister said. "What did the extremist who today took over the PN do? Not only did he not apologise to Carmelo Abela, but he laughed in his face," Abela said, in reference to the PL alleging that PN MP Karol Aquilina had laughed at Carmelo Abela, an allegation that Aquilina denied. "Look at the cruelty. This after a court said Carmelo Abela was a victim of a false report," the PL Leader said.

"They are dangerous without power, imagine how big their heads would grow with power in their hands, and how many more people they will hurt. They write about you, invent that you would have committed crimes, make people believe they are saying the truth, pass you through an ordeal and when they are found lying, instead laugh at you."

Robert Abela said a few weeks ago he stated that the red line is crossed only once with him, "and it is crossed"

"We will continue stopping your lies and calumnies. We will not let you destroy anyone else."

Abela said that lies were said about Cabinet Secretary Ryan Spagnol. When the magistrate called the person making the allegations before them to confirm what he alleges, instead signed a declaration "that what he said was not true, and that he confused Spagnol with someone else."  Abela said "even when they admit they lied, they say they weren't to blame."

He also said that justice is "not there for elitists to use in order to keep the police away from their door while unjustly throwing it behind someone else's. He said that, as the party of the workers, a Labour government will ensure that justice is the same for everyone.

The Prime Minister remarked that the current legal framework is outdated "and has long been destroying the lives of innocent people and serious businesses as there were those who abused it." He said that with the reform, safeguards will be put in place "so that those who lie and maliciously slander people and businesses will have to answer for it and will have to pay for unjustly throwing innocent people into turmoil for years." He said that the abuse of justice is the greatest enemy of the rule of law, and the strongest proof of the need for this reform has been given by the extremist forces of the PN."

Abela also said that the reform in inquiries is aimed at granting new rights to victims of crimes and their relatives, ensuring they are informed about developments in their case, including relatives of victims in traffic accidents. He also spoke of the need for greater transparency and accountability when it comes to experts.

On the appointment of experts in magisterial inquiries, he said that with the current law there "is a situation where experts, or better to call them supposed experts, refuse to come to court to testify about what they were meant to have done. Can you believe this. An €11 million inquiry and experts who refuse to come to Malta to testify," Abela said, in what was a clear reference to the hospitals magisterial inquiry. Uncontrolled spending. Foreigners, meant to be experts being paid millions when there are Maltese capable who know how to do this work. We will introduce transparency and increase accountability. We will not deny any rights."

Abela he said that the government isn't introducing this reform to protect itself, mentioning the removal of time-barring that the PL had introduced for politicians. "What we didn't think of was that in their political fight they will not stop with us, but spread to common people as well. People who there isn't the slightest doubt about their integrity."

The Labour Party leader in another part of his speech, referred to government projects. Among them, he said that the government created the Bengħajsa family park, when "others" wanted to use it to expand the Freeport. We created a 20,000 sqm park," he said, adding that now it will extend with another 7,000sqm.

Abela also announced that Fort Bengħajsa will be given back to the people. It was illegally occupied and the government took action to get it back for the people. He said it will be rehabilitated and be given back to the people. "Through the Lands Authority we will ensure that this site is enjoyed by the public and the illegalities will be removed."

"These are changes that make a difference for communities and give them dignity," he said. "Decisions which we take as we love Malta."

Abela also addressed the news that administrative fees that beverage producers and importers must pay to the BCRS were being dramatically increased, with the company blaming rising operational costs. The BCRS had said that this was due to rising costs in operating and managing the scheme. BCRS on its website said: "Since its launch, the Company has held back from increasing administration fees. However, operational expenses have continued to grow. These include higher collection rates, enhanced service quality measures, and rising compliance issues. Additionally, global recyclable waste prices fell sharply in 2023 and early 2024, further straining finances.  Costs are expected to rise even more in 2025. BCRS can no longer absorb these increases without risking the Scheme's sustainability. To address this, administration fees will be adjusted. The increase in administration fees will cover the said increased costs and will support improved infrastructure, more efficient recycling processes, and the reduction of environmental impact caused by waste."

Abela, speaking on Sunday, said that the government would never allow a commercial operator that retrieves bottles from throwing a new weight onto the people. "Just as much as we will ensure that the service given by the BCRS must increase efficiency. That is why we are always with the people."

Abela's partisan speech confirms difference between the parties - PN

"Once again, Robert Abela's entirely partisan speech confirmed the difference between the two political parties," the Nationalist Party said in response.

"In contrast to the PN, which is focused on providing solutions to the challenges faced by Maltese and Gozitan families, Robert Abela and the Labour Party are solely concerned with protecting themselves and justifying their wrongdoings."