Both Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition Leader Alex Borg spoke of a positive meeting this evening as the two met at Castille to discuss the appointment of a Chief Justice.
Borg arrived at Castille on Friday evening for an hour-long meeting with Prime Minister Robert Abela to discuss the appointment of the next Chief Justice. Borg entered the Office of the Prime Minister at around 6.30pm, accompanied by Shadow Justice Minister Joe Giglio.
The meeting followed separate summons issued on Thursday evening by President Myriam Spiteri Debono, who urged both leaders to reach agreement in parliament on the appointment while making it clear she would not take part in the discussions.
Prime Minister Abela was the first to be called to San Anton and, following his meeting with the President, invited Borg to continue talks on Friday.
Speaking to journalists outside Castille after the meeting, Borg described the discussion as "healthy" and said talks would continue until an agreement is reached.
Prime Minister Abela also confirmed that another meeting will be held in the coming days, expressing hope that consensus can be found on a nominee for the post.
"It was a good meeting in which we discussed a number of points. We will now evaluate what was said and then meet again to hopefully agree on a name for a new Chief Justice," Abela said, adding that he could not disclose whether the government had put forward the same candidate due to confidentiality.
Earlier this week, Borg had requested that the President act as a guarantor of the process and preside over meetings with the Prime Minister. However, discussions will now proceed without presidential involvement.
The talks come after an attempt to appoint Madam Justice Consuelo Scerri Herrera as Chief Justice failed due to the lack of a two-thirds parliamentary majority. Abela has proposed introducing an anti-deadlock mechanism to resolve the impasse.
Incumbent Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti, who reached retirement age on Wednesday, will remain in office until a successor is agreed. The government confirmed last week that it is backing Judge Scerri Herrera, while the PN leader is understood to have proposed four alternative candidates.