Abela Backs Attorney General as Opposition Demands Resignation After Fenech Acquittal

2026-09-06T17:01:19.691+00:00 · Updated 2026-09-07T05:00:47.424+00:00

The political fallout from the acquittal of Yorgen Fenech has triggered a sharp confrontation between the government and the Opposition over the position of the Attorney General. The Nationalist Party has demanded the immediate resignation of the Attorney General, pointing to what it described as repeated prosecutorial shortcomings and an absence from the courtroom during the trial.

Opposition representatives insisted that the outcome of the proceedings cannot be ignored, arguing that decisive institutional accountability is required. Nationalist Party figures, including Borg, stressed that the party intends to exert sustained pressure until concrete responsibility is assumed for the conduct of the case.

In response, Prime Minister Robert Abela firmly rejected the calls for a resignation, declaring that he retains complete confidence in the Attorney General. Abela mounted a robust defence of the state prosecutor, dismissing the Opposition's demands as irresponsible.

The Prime Minister also warned that public criticism directed at the Attorney General risks causing material damage to legal proceedings. Abela cautioned that contentious public statements from political figures could actively undermine the grounds or prospects for an appeal against the verdict.

Scrutiny has also emerged regarding the timing and tone of political reactions immediately following the jury's decision. Questions were put to Borg regarding whether the party rushed into issuing declarations in the direct aftermath of the acquittal, with the MP avoiding direct answers on the matter.

The confrontation highlights widening institutional friction following one of the most high-profile criminal trials in recent Maltese history. With the prosecution weighing its legal options and the Opposition maintaining its push for resignations, the handling of the case remains at the centre of intense national debate.

Prime Minister Robert Abela has confirmed that the Attorney General is actively considering lodging an appeal following the acquittal of Yorgen Fenech. Speaking on the latest developments, Abela cautioned that public commentary and speculation by Opposition figures risk prejudicing the legal process and obstructing the search for the truth.

The Prime Minister's criticism followed statements from Nationalist Party MP Alex Borg, who called on the police to investigate any allegations that members of the jury may have been influenced during the trial. Borg also reaffirmed that the Opposition will maintain sustained pressure for the full adoption of the recommendations made by the Daphne Caruana Galizia public inquiry.

In response, the Nationalist Party dismissed the Prime Minister's warnings, arguing that Abela appeared eager to erase the central role played by the Office of the Prime Minister at Castille throughout the events surrounding the case. The party maintained that institutional accountability remains paramount as public debate over the verdict intensifies.