Watch: Robert Abela Says He Will Offer Hand Of Friendship To ‘Whoever Opposition Leader May Be Next Week’
Prime Minister Robert Abela has suggested that the Nationalist Party could well change its leader after the general election this weekend.
During an interview on Xtra last night, Abela discussed his stalled negotiations with Bernard Grech on the appointment of a new Ombudsman and accused the PN leader of adopting a ‘my way or the highway’ stance, rejecting all names except the ones he proposed himself.
“I would propose a name, [Grech] would tell me he needs to consult and he would come back to inform me no agreement has been reached,” Abela said.
“I am ready to extend the same hand of friendship to whoever the Opposition Leader could be next week… or it could be that I will speaking from the other side on Saturday because what will happen on Saturday isn’t guaranteed.”
He drew parallels to how he and Grech’s predecessor Adrian Delia had discussed who should become the next Chief Justice at length before they eventually reached an agreement on Mark Chetcuti’s appointment.
“I think the results speak for themselves”.
@lovinmaltaofficial 👀 Thoughts? 🧐 #fyp #fypmalta #malta #lovinmalta #robertabela #bernardgrech #labour #pn #pl #election #leader #opposition #primeminister ♬ original sound – Lovin Malta
Numerous surveys have forecast a large gap between PL and PN, with PL triumphing by anywhere between 25,000 and 40,000 votes, but Abela has repeatedly urged his supporters not to let the numbers lull them into a sense of complacency.
Recent changes to the PN’s statute ensure the party must hold a leadership election after every general election it loses.
In a Times of Malta interview today, Grech suggested he would contest any future post-election leadership election.
He also said the PN’s electoral performance should be compared to the state of the party before he took over in 2020, when surveys indicated a gap of up to 80,000 votes between the two parties.
Do you think either party will change its leader after the election?
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