Prime Minister Robert Abela hopes to reach an agreement with Opposition Leader Alex Borg over the next Chief Justice by Wednesday.

The tight timeline comes amid growing tensions in negotiations between the two leaders. 

When asked whether it was wise to go public with the government's nominee despite the lack of agreement, Abela defended the move, noting that former PN leader Bernard Grech had previously published names for appointments, such as the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life, without full consensus.

Expressing frustration at Borg's inaction, Abela said that the opposition leader has not even put the nomination of Consuelo Scerri Herrera to the PN parliamentary group up for approval or denial. "The problem is that he sits on the fence and delays decisions," Abela said, suggesting that making the government's nomination public is necessary for transparency and in the public interest.

Abela emphasized that he hopes the next Chief Justice will be chosen by next Wednesday, ensuring a smooth transition as the current Chief Justice's term comes to an end.

When pressed on a date to discuss the nomination with Borg, Abela sidestepped the question and criticized the opposition leader for seeking opinions from "people who aren't necessarily part of the PN parliamentary group."

Taking a pointed jab at Borg, Abela compared him to one of his predecessors, Adrian Delia, who was able to reach agreements quickly. "Delia was able to reach a deal with me in a few minutes," Abela remarked, underscoring his frustration with what he perceives as unnecessary delays.