Prime Minister Robert Abela dismissed both PN leadership candidates Adrian Delia and Alex Borg as potential leaders of the Nationalist Party, saying that the party’s "establishment" remains in control and that both men had “sold themselves out to the extremists within the PN.”

Responding to a question during an interview on Labour Party media on Sunday morning, Abela took aim at what he described as a coordinated strategy by key PN figures to undermine civil servants, instil fear, and stifle good governance.

He also criticised what he described as a coordinated strategy by PN figures to intimidate civil servants, adding that the government stepped in to offer insurance to those public officials acting in good faith through the recent civil amendments.

“They tried to create fear, then voted in favour of the measures we proposed to fix the problem. That is inconsistency,” Abela said.

Abela also announced that the government has issued the long-awaited tender for the expansion of the emergency department and the psychiatric ward at Mater Dei Hospital, pledging that the project will be treated as an absolute priority, and must be implemented by the end of the legislature.

Abela said that overcoming procurement challenges had delayed progress but insisted the project is now moving ahead.

“The tender has now been issued, and we are giving this absolute priority until the end of this legislature,” he said.

He emphasised the government’s commitment to improving mental healthcare infrastructure, especially in the wake of growing post-pandemic demand.

“After COVID, demand for mental health services has increased, and we must respond with better infrastructure and services,” Abela said.

He reiterated the importance of constructing a new, purpose-built mental health facility adjacent to Mater Dei to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.

While praising the work being done at Mount Carmel Hospital, he noted that parts of the facility are outdated and that community-based infrastructure was needed.

“We must build within the community. A new mental health hospital next to Mater Dei is essential, not just for medical reasons but to remove stigma,” Abela said.

Abela said that waiting lists were being tackled through outsourcing and investment, and the government had accelerated knee replacement operations, for example, and committed millions to the private sector to help clear backlogs.

In Gozo, he said the CDAU unit had seen significant progress, but more work is needed in Malta.

Abela also addressed the sensitive topic of euthanasia, saying that no national discussion on the matter was going to begin before the government had invested sufficiently in palliative care.

“The top priority must always be palliative care. That is why we have invested millions at Hospice Malta,” he said, adding that a new 16-bed palliative care unit had been opened at SAMOC.

Abela said that only then could the country open a public, mature discussion about euthanasia, which he said received several well-thought and mature submissions, which all need to be analysed.

If the discussion eventually becomes a bill, after perhaps a White Paper process, the ideal situation would be to have the law in place for those who want the choice, but for it not to be ever used, Abela said, adding that this matter should not be rushed.

Turning to the controversial citizenship-by-investment scheme, the Prime Minister said the government had made substantial changes following the European Court of Justice's ruling, particularly by removing its transactional nature and eliminating agents.

“We insisted with the European Commission that granting and removal of citizenship is Malta’s prerogative. The court never said otherwise, it only found fault with the scheme’s transactional element. So, we removed that,” he said.

Abela defended the economic benefits of the scheme, noting that billions were generated which helped the country weather crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also reassured existing investors and the public that the newly restructured scheme continues to provide benefits without breaching EU rules.

Abela also said that Malta’s new labour migration policy was a response to population pressures and labour market needs.

“Foreign workers should only be allowed in when truly necessary, and they must be treated with dignity,” he said.

"Those who are not needed should not be allowed in," he said, describing the policy as a direct response to the message the public delivered in the last elections.

On tourism, he acknowledged infrastructural strain but said the government would now prioritise quality over quantity.

“We are no longer aiming for sheer numbers, we are focusing on attracting higher-spending tourists who stay longer, and choose higher quality accommodation,” he said, pointing to a €100 million investment in drainage infrastructure to support both residents and tourists.

The Prime Minister said that several affordable housing projects are underway, including four sites in collaboration with the Church to build 260 apartments, of which the tenders have already been issued, he said.

He said the sector could handle moderation and said developers would still be able to make a reasonable profit.

Commenting on the country's neutrality, Abela said Malta was not a NATO member but participated in the Partnership for Peace and upheld a clear position of non-alignment and no spending on lethal weapons due to its neutrality.

He condemned both the Hamas attack on Israel and the excessive Israeli response in Gaza, saying Malta must uphold neutrality while remaining active and vocal against atrocities.

He also said the country must remain vigilant against drug abuse, supporting educational rather than punitive approaches for users, while remaining tough on traffickers.

He also confirmed that the government remains committed to lowering the corporate tax rate for Maltese businesses from 35% to 25% on initial earnings by the end of the legislature, in line with its electoral manifesto.

Asked about Vision 2050, Abela said the country could afford to think long term now that most people were financially comfortable. The focus, he said, should now shift to quality-of-life priorities, including open spaces, work-life balance, education and environmental regeneration.

“Why plan for only five years of a legislature? We should plan for the next 25,” he said, outlining aspirations for open spaces, green areas, and a better work-life balance.

He cited Manoel Island as a case in point, where plans for apartments were scrapped with the consortium, and instead, government plans to develop a national park and restore historic, dilapidated buildings.

Abela said that the message sent by voters in last year’s elections were taken seriously through the implementation of several measures during the past 13 months.

“People wanted the PL to keep governing, but they also demanded better,” he said.

He promised that feedback from the public would be reflected in October’s Budget, and said the party had responded by listening, making internal reforms, including to the Labour Party, and delivering new projects, including the Msida Creek flyover and the Paola Health Hub, which is slowly opening up its services.