THE UNSEEN HAND OF THE FATHER OF MALTA'S PRIME MINISTER SHOWS ITS DARK INFLUENCE

Fatherly advice or demands? Look at the nonverbals.

Political strife within the Republic of Malta, which is further destabilizing an already weakened government, seeking to sweep stubborn corruption scandals under the proverbial carpet, has been further increased by the hidden hand of GEORGE ABELA, the controlling father of Prime Minister ROBERT ABELA. The senior Abela, described by Labour Party insiders as the man guiding and taking important decisions on behalf of his son, continues to clash with the leadership around former Malta PM Joseph Muscat. Known to be a very revengeful and spiteful man, the father's shortcomings appear to have been traits picked up by his son, who is definitely under his undue influence. The outcome is uncertain, according to seasoned observers that we have heard from of late.

The father, formerly his country's president, who reportedly insists on taking on his political enemies in the Labour Party, all of which date back to his short-lived presidential tenure as a member of government, lasting only a couple of years, due to George's issues with the then-Prime Minister, Alfred Sant, now an MEP.  Sant has been described as JM's Godfather, hence the continued enmity, and continuing anger against Joseph Muscat. The present PM, known privately within PL circles as "Daddy's Boy," has implemented a number of his father's wishes, all of which contributes to internal problems, while the government is busy attempting to fight off reformers, Opposition leaders and voters, all of who are demanding action on the major unresolved corruption scandals, and even a change in leadership.

Whether Robert Abela's whispers in his son's ear result in action against Joseph Muscat, who is responsible for much of Malta's current corruption misery and scandal,  both as a way to divert attention from the present troubled administration, and to please his father, we cannot say, but Malta is watching for the outcome.