VALLETTA, Malta - A first-term lawmaker whose father was Malta’s president has been chosen to be the country’s prime minister. The count on Sunday showed Robert Abela received nearly 58% of votes cast by members of the governing Labour Party eligible to choose the new leader. Abela, 42, will replace Joseph Muscat, who is stepping down midway through his second term as prime minister amid demands for accountability over the 2017 murder of an anti-corruption journalist. Muscat tweeted his congratulations, saying, “Proud to be handing over to him #Malta PM office on Monday,“ when Abela will be sworn in. Before being chosen as Labour leader, Abela said he would work to restore Malta’s reputation for rule of law.

Source: thestar January 12, 2020 09:11 UTC