Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has revealed that he was planning to resign anyway within the next year, barely a week after he told the nation that he “would not abdicate” his position any time soon.

“It was always in mind that I would resign in these last few months, whether that was during this summer, the next budget, or the next summer,” he told One Radio on Monday morning.

Yesterday, Muscat broadcasted a message saying that he will step down after a Leadership election by the 12th of January.

While Muscat seems to be the giving the impression that he would have left regardless of the current political crisis, it was clearly mounting protests and the potential links between the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia and his closest allies that forced his hand.

His resignation has mobilised Labour Party supporters to go to the party’s headquarters this evening. However, Muscat appealed on supporters not to go, instead announcing a nationwide tour before his resignation.

“You don’t need to come, I will come to you,” he said.

Meanwhile, turning to his tenure, Muscat insisted that while he had “regrets” he was “serene” with the work he accomplished. However, while he admitted their “mistakes”, Muscat often referred to them as “perceived” errors throughout the interview.

Still, he insisted that given the political situation, he had to shoulder political responsibility.

Muscat’s future is up in the air. The 45-year-old politician told One that he had no intention to become a pensioner and for now wanted to focus on things he missed out on, like fatherhood.

“I have other ideas for the future,” Muscat coyly said.