Abela dubs ruling on hospitals deal as a ‘challenge’

Labour leader Robert Abela has dubbed last week’s judgement on the hospitals deal as a “challenge” to his government

Without explicitly naming the fraudulent deal, he vaguely referred to “a local challenge” about which he “spoke in Parliament”.

The Court of Appeal ruled on Monday that senior government officials were complicit in the fraudulent deal with Steward Health Care.

It also found that the government had failed in its duty to protect the national interest and instead defended Steward Health Care throughout the process.

Abela announces ‘socialist’ budget

Speaking at a party activity in Żabbar, the prime minister announced that the government will present a budget based on “socialist principles”.

He said that 95,000 families, almost double from this year’s 50,000, are set to ‘benefit’ from an additional cost-of-living adjustment allowance.

Abela did not yet explain how the number of vulnerable families eligible for receiving the additional benefit had almost doubled.