PM and Opposition clash in Parliament as Abela avoids direct reply on Judge Mintoff allegations

Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition Leader Alex Borg clashed in Parliament after Abela again stopped short of directly addressing allegations made by Judge Wenzu Mintoff, prompting renewed calls from the Opposition for clear answers.

Opening the discussion, Borg said the public is “waiting for peace of mind” following the serious claims contained in the judge’s letter, insisting the prime minister has a duty to respond not only to the Opposition but to the entire Maltese public.

He accused Abela of trying to shift attention away from the accusations by focusing instead on disputes about the nomination process rather than the substance of the claims.

“If you have nothing to hide, you should not keep hiding,” Borg said, arguing that the public deserves clarity about the allegations.

In his reply, Abela criticised the Opposition’s stance and said he had expected Borg to request a formal debate, adding he would have been ready to participate “in full liberty”. He also noted that the Opposition had not clearly stated whether it agreed with the government’s proposed nomination of Judge Miriam Hayman 

Without going into the detail of the letter, Abela said Mintoff remains a member of the judiciary whose ambition to serve as Chief Justice he respects. He said that a prior meeting between himself, Borg, Justice Minister Jonathan Attard and Opposition MP Joe Giglio had focused on the criteria for the role, particularly the level of experience required of nominees.

Abela said that discussions centred on ensuring candidates would have neither too little experience nor so much seniority that they would serve only a very short period in the post.

Abela dismissed the Opposition’s reaction as agitation, while Borg reiterated that the central issue remains the unanswered accusations.

No agreement was reached on holding a formal debate specifically about the letter, leaving the political dispute unresolved.

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