PN leader should stop Casa from holding EP rule of law debate, Abela says

Updated 5.58pm with PN statement.

Prime Minister Robert Abela has called on Opposition leader Alex Borg to stop Nationalist MEP David Casa from holding a European Parliament debate on the rule of law in Malta.

Speaking on Sunday, he said that while the government has a good record of reforms and was not afraid of such a debate, it could potentially scare off investors.

The European Parliament debate is scheduled to be held on Tuesday  to mark the anniversary of the 2017 assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. 

Abela said the debate was against the country’s interests and could portray Malta’s rule of law as weak, which would have damaging consequences if investors decided not to invest in the country.  

“I cannot understand how this week there will be a European Parliament debate, driven by a PN MEP, to stop high-quality investment from coming to our country,” Abela said.

“While the debate is being portrayed as being about the rule of law, which I have no issue debating, its true effect will be to discourage quality investment from coming to the country,” Abela told a Labour political activity.

He said that new PN leader Alex Borg, who was in Brussels last week and met Casa, should make the MEP stop the holding of the debate.

'End corruption, not debate,' David Casa says

David Casa reacted quickly to Abela's remarks, saying social media:

"The best way to protect Malta’s reputation and attract investment? End corruption. Not debate."

The Nationalist Party in a separate statement said that contrary to what Robert Abela had said, the debate in the European Parliament will only take place because it was agreed to by the Socialists – the same group whose vice president is the Labour Party’s deputy leader.

"Robert Abela and the Labour Party have once again confirmed that they are in a state of panic and have their backs against the wall."

The PN said it was a lie that Alex Borg had gone to Brussels to somehow push for a debate against Malta’s interests in the European institutions.

"This debate takes place every year and had already been scheduled long before Alex Borg’s visit to Brussels," it said.

‘Advanced stages’ in introducing social media restrictions

During the event, Abela said that  government discussions on regulating social media for under-13s were at an “advanced stage”.

Back in May, Abela said the government was considering action on restricting social media access for children under the age of 13, highlighting how children should not be spending most of their time on social media. 

On Sunday, Abela continued to express his concerns about how children, “tomorrow’s workforce”, deserve social media protection. 

"We are looking at children aged13 and under, and this measure could be extended further," he said.

He said the government is looking at how Australia had introduced tighter restrictions, banning children under 16 from social media. Those measures were introduced after a teenager killed herself after online bullying.

Abela also spoke about the digital sector, announcing that in the weeks to come a high-performance computer would be commissioned in the MDIA (Malta's National Cybersecurity Certification Authority) building to strengthen digital research. 

He also said the government will establish a Credit Review Office in the coming days. The office will work as a mediator between banks and potential clients where an application for credit was refused, to try and find a solution.

Supporters listening to the prime minister on Sunday. PL photo.

Political activity held in newly-refurbished state school 

The Labour Party event was held at Adrian Borg Primary School in Fleur-de-Lys, Birkirkara. Abela inaugurated the school last week after an extensive €2m refurbishment.

When asked by Times of Malta why the school was used for a party event, he said this was not the first time the party had used such venues, and it paid for their use.