Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela has invoked prescription on a standards investigation into his Xewkija land purchase, a move that has sparked controversy and raised questions about transparency and accountability. The investigation, launched by the Standards Commissioner, aimed to scrutinize Abela’s acquisition of a farmhouse and two adjacent plots of land in Xewkija, Gozo, which were purchased in 2010, 2022, and 2023, respectively.
At the heart of the issue is whether Abela properly declared the properties in his annual asset declarations, as required by law. Abela has maintained that he declared the properties correctly, claiming that they were all part of a single property with one address. However, critics argue that the properties were originally separate and distinct, and that Abela’s failure to disclose the additional land purchases constitutes a breach of transparency and accountability.
The invocation of prescription by Abela effectively means that the investigation will be time-barred, and the Standards Commissioner will not be able to proceed with the inquiry. This development has sparked concerns about the erosion of transparency and accountability in Maltese politics, and has raised questions about the effectiveness of the country’s institutions in holding public officials to account.
