Prime Minister Robert Abela has once again done what he is well known for - another U-turn, or rather a complete 360-degree turn, leaving Malta without direction, the Nationalist Party said Friday.

Yesterday morning, upon arriving at the European Union Summit, he stated that he was against Europe increasing its investment in defence. However, by the evening, he voted in favour of more investment in this sector.

On this issue, Robert Abela has already changed his stance three times in public. In just a few weeks, he has shifted from one position to another three times.

On the eve of the European Parliament elections, Robert Abela chose to spread a blatant lie about the PN and its representatives, falsely claiming that the PN supports war. He did so simply because the PN had argued that Malta must invest more in its defence and that neutrality should be interpreted in the context of today's realities, the PN said.

Yet, while he says one thing in Malta, Abela says and does the opposite in Brussels. In fact, as recently as February this year, he made his first U-turn on this subject. At another EU leaders' summit, Abela had declared that Malta should invest more in defence. At that time, he even agreed with the PN that Malta cannot interpret neutrality in a static manner and must consider today's geopolitical realities.

A month later, at another EU Summit - yesterday's - Abela once again changed his stance, the PN said. Speaking to journalists before the summit started in the morning, he contradicted his previous position and claimed that the country should not invest more in this sector.

Just a few hours later, Abela changed his position again. By the end of yesterday's summit, he voted in favour of the EU increasing its investment in this area.

This is classic hypocrisy from Robert Abela, saying one thing in Malta to appeal to the public while doing the opposite in Brussels, the PN said.

When the PN consistently argued for the need for Europe to invest more in defence, Robert Abela criticised and attacked us. Yet, behind the scenes, he votes exactly as we have been saying all along, the PN said.

This does not only highlight the Prime Minister's lack of credibility but also his complete lack of direction in crucial areas affecting our country's security.

Malta deserves a leader who knows where he is heading, not a Prime Minister who changes his position based on what suits him politically, the statement concluded.