[WATCH] Abela 'will not take inquiry’s verdict’ on whether to accept Fearne resignation

Prime Minister Robert Abela has stated that he will not rely on the findings of the hospitals’ privatisation magisterial inquiry in assessing whether to accept its conclusions, amongst them the potential resignation of former health minister Chris Fearne.

On Thursday MaltaToday reported that deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne had told the Labour parliamentary group he was ready to resign if his name is mentioned in the hospitals inquiry.

Outside the courts on Friday, Abela sidestepped a question about whether he was putting himself above the inquiry and spoke instead about a scenario where he would not accept Fearne’s resignation even if his arraignment was recommended by the magisterial inquiry.

“Since when do magistrates make political judgements?” Abela said, adding that even a recommendation of charges would not satisfy the criteria for Fearne’s possible resignation.

The Prime Minister also said that he would be going through the inquiry himself and look into whether certain individuals recommended for arraignment, “are only guilty of working for different administrations and were loyal servants to the State.”

“If individuals known for their integrity are somehow recommended for arraignment, after discussing with Cabinet and the parliamentary group, I will exercise my discretion.” 

Abela said that he would be using that discretion “in favour of all those who work honestly and with integrity towards implementing the electoral manifesto.”

The Prime Minister echoed his predecessor's claims of a shadowy “establishment” working against him, saying that Labour ministers and its former leaders were being targeted by the magisterial inquiry.

But when asked to identifiy the individuals forming part of the establishment, Abela sidestepped the question and instead suggested that “one of the establishment’s goals is to destroy MaltaToday.” 

He refused further requests to identify who the members of the "establishment" are, repeating the same nebulous rhetoric he used earlier this week. "The establishment works in silence...it doesn't listen to the will of the people like we do, It acts behind the scenes...and has many tentacles in many institutions. It only works for its own interests," he said.

“This group evidently still controls the Nationalist Party,” Abela added, suggesting the magisterial inquiry’s report would itself “give clearer indications of how the establishment works.”

Abela also dodged a question about whether he had already seen the inquiry, as his words seemed to indicate. "I think there are sections of the media who are more aware of its contents than I am," replied the Prime Minister. "The establishment, through its tentacles, has been commenting on Facebook for months on the inquiry’s contents and indicating when it will be published,” Abela said.

Pressed to address the question, the Prime Minister replied that he only had seen "a timeline" and "naturally one hears many things."