Updated 5.08pm with PN statement

Robert Abela suggested on Wednesday that media reports about former Transport Malta and PL CEO James Piscopo were part of a coordinated attack as he began helping the Labour Party again.

“We have seen the independent media work in this way several times, in which first there are these supposed investigations and the next day Repubblika seeks a magisterial inquiry,” Abela said.

The actions by (rule-of-law NGO) Repubblika and lawyer Jason Azzopardi meant that anyone who worked for the Labour Party needed to prepare for a magisterial inquiry (request) from private individuals, the prime minister said.

On Tuesday, Times of Malta, MaltaToday and Amphora Media reported that a financial investigation into Piscopo found “suspicious” consultancy payments in 2015, the same year Transport Malta oversaw the €35 million Kappara Junction project and a new company took over the operations of Malta’s public bus service as part of a multi-million-euro contract.

Following the story, Vicki Ann Cremona, president of Repubblika, filed an application calling for a magisterial inquiry into the revelations.

Speaking on the issue on Wednesday, Abela said that Piscopo was being “attacked” because he had recently begun working with the Labour Party again. 

He said these “disgusting tactics” used against the PL would stop thanks to the magisterial inquiry reform.

The reform, which is set to become law soon, will change the process how magisterial inquiries are called and made. People will no longer be able to directly request a magistrate to open an inquiry but will first have to approach the police. If the police do not take action, citizens can then take their case to a judge, who will decide if an investigation is merited.

More proof than at present would be needed for a request for an inquiry to be upheld.

'Abela missing the point' 

Responding in a statement later on Wednesday, Amphora Media publisher The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation said Abela had failed to see parallels between the investigation into Piscopo and an oil corruption scandal in the dying days of the last PN administration.

Seven individuals were charged in 2013 in connection with alleged corruption in Enemalta’s oil purchases.

The foundation noted the case had taken place "when another party was in government and the demands for public accountability in that particular case."

Writing on Facebook, it said: "In his rush to condemn public interest journalism, the Prime Minister misses the critical point that the government and public authorities are accountable to the public, whichever party is in government."

"The job of investigative journalism to hold power to account."

'Disgraceful attack'

In a statement later that day, the Opposition Nationalist Party called Abela's words "another disgraceful attack on the media" while saying that those involved in scandals "almost always" were close to the PM. 

"Whenever the independent media does its job and uncovers wrongdoing by figures within Abela’s Government or their associates, and knowing he has no credible defence, Robert Abela lashes out at journalists", the PN said. 

Calling Abela "a hostage to the same corruption he allowed to flourish", the Opposition said that if he "truly respects" the rule of law, the PM should submit to a magisterial inquiry in such cases, including in relation to Piscopo.

Stressing that "justice and journalism are the pillars upon which democracy is built", the PN said that since 2013 Abela and the Labour government had "repeatedly brought shame upon our country through attacks on journalists."

"The Partit Nazzjonalista will not allow Robert Abela to continue undermining the pillars of democracy in order to turn Malta into an autocracy", the party said.