Prime Minister Robert Abela has "orchestrated" the opening of two new magisterial inquiries "against the PN and its employees, as well as against PN Leader Bernard Grech, the Nationalist Party said.

"Robert Abela is using the very same tool he wants to deprive the Maltese people of in a desperate attempt to force the Nationalist Party to agree with him on removing citizens' right to request a magisterial inquiry," the PN said.

"However, he will not succeed. The PN is determined to strongly oppose Robert Abela's fascist law, which seeks to eliminate the right to initiate magisterial inquiries."

"In his latest desperate attempt, which shows how backed into a corner he is and how he has lost all control over the fascist faction within Labour that has taken over his party, the Prime Minister is exploiting the proposed changes to the law on magisterial inquiries to silence the PN, just as he does with anyone who disagrees with him."

"Following his attack in Parliament against Partit Nazzjonalista workers during the debate on the Magisterial Inquiries Act, Robert Abela has now orchestrated the opening of two new magisterial inquiries against the PN and its employees, as well as against PN Leader Bernard Grech. After repeating Karl Stagno Navarra's baseless accusations, Abela has further confirmed that the fascist faction within Labour dictates what happens, as it has now put into practice what the Prime Minister declared in Parliament last week by launching these two magisterial inquiries."

"Ironically, at the same time, Abela and Justice Minister Jonathan Attard continue their campaign to remove the right of Maltese and Gozitans to request a magisterial inquiry - at all costs - desperately trying to protect themselves and corrupt politicians from corruption investigations," the PN said.

This reform has been widely condemned, including by former Chief Justice Joseph Said Pullicino, who has now joined the growing list of individuals and organisations expressing serious concerns about Robert Abela's plans, the PN added. "This list also includes former Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri, Professor Kevin Aquilina, the Chamber of Advocates, the Malta Chamber, and various other organisations."

The PN said that this is not the first "fascist-style attack" against the PN Leader. "It echoes Abela's previous attack on Bernard Grech when he sent a drone over the Opposition Leader's house to fabricate a story about him. At that time, Abela was under immense pressure and tried to divert attention from the scandal surrounding the permit he obtained to double the size of his villa in Żejtun by extending it onto ODZ land."

"On that occasion, Abela was exposed when, shortly after ordering Super One to illegally send a drone over Bernard Grech's home and concoct a story, he spoke to journalists outside Parliament and claimed he would reveal details about the Opposition Leader's property."

"In light of all this, the PN responds by stating that no tactic from Abela will silence it. This is nothing but a desperate attempt by Abela and Labour's fascist faction to save their skin from the rampant corruption engulfing the Labour Government. Under Abela, just a few days ago, Malta dropped another ten places in the international corruption index. Yet, without any shame, Abela and the fascist faction within Labour are attempting to shift their wrongdoing onto others," the party said.

"PN Leader Bernard Grech and the PN make it clear that they have nothing to fear. They will continue to strongly oppose Robert Abela's fascist law, which seeks to abolish the right to request magisterial inquiries."

Details about the inquiries the PN was referring to were not provided in the PN statement, however earlier in the day Stagno Navarra posted a photo on social media of two cover documents, one which read it was for a request for a magisterial inquiry into "illegal financing, criminal conspiracy, financial evasion and money laundering conducted by the Nationalist Party," and the other a request for a magisterial inquiry into "financing, fiscal evasion and unexplained wealth of PN Leader Bernard Grech and others."