Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1536815
4 NEWS 4 ILENIA DEBONO Idebono@mediatoday.com.mt maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 25 JUNE 2025 NICOLE MEILAK nmeilak@mediatoday.com.mt Early Pregnancy Unit opens at Mater Dei A new Early Pregnancy Unit at Mater Dei Hospital will allow people experiencing miscarriage to be treated in a ward away from those who are pregnant or who have just given birth. Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela officially opened the unit on Monday. He said the unit will be operated by a team of 20 trained professionals, in- cluding nurses and midwives, who have undergone special- ised training. The service is set to begin operating next week. "I am convinced that the Ear- ly Pregnancy Unit will not only meet our intended objectives, but will also prove vital for in- dividuals who unfortunately experience pregnancy loss," he said. The new unit will be able to accommodate eight patients for extended care and monitor- ing. It will also include an out- patient clinic to support those dealing with recurrent preg- nancy loss. Abela said around three peo- ple everyday experience a mis- carriage in Malta, with approx- imately 400 patients admitted annually to Mater Dei Hospital as a result. Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela visits the new ward at Mater Dei Hospital Franco Debono says he is 'duty-bound' to explore possibility of running for PN leadership LAWYER and former Nationalist MP Franco Debono said he is duty-bound to explore the possibility of contesting the PN leadership. Ambiguously hinting at a return to the party, he said his interest in politics has remained, despite being "shunned" from the PN over his row with then-leader Lawrence Gonzi ahead of the 2013 elec- tion. Debono in 2012 had voted against Budget 2013, leading to the eventual de- feat of the PN in the 2013 general elec- tion. Debono said he is supported within the party, as shown by recent surveys includ- ing MaltaToday's. The survey showed Debono received the support of 5.3% of respondents. The lawyer said it is a surprise that de- spite being absent from politics for 12 years, he is the third most popular name in the surveys. He insisted having people and supporters' approval is essential for the new leader to succeed. Speaking about his future within the PN, he said that the decision to return is not one that depends on him, but on peo- ple. "If the party feels like I have more to contribute, I can help" he said, hinting at a possible return to politics. Refusing to commit whether he would be putting his hat in the ring or not, he said the said the PN should shift its strat- egy from one whose central criticism of the Labour Party is corruption. He said the strategy has not been useful. He also said the Opposition must un- derstand "the country is not falling apart", and the PN should be offering better solu- tions not just criticsm. Another problem the PN is facing ac- cording to Debono is an aging supporter base, thanking elderly supporters for their contribution over the years, but insisting the party needs more youths to flourish. The former MP also spoke about the PN's vague stances on controversial top- ics like euthanasia and IVF, saying they harm the party. Grech's low ratings stemmed from being cast in Metsola's shadow – Sergio Mallia Former NET journalist and political commentator Sergio Mallia said Grech's poor showing in the surveys were a result of him being undermined by Metsola. He said Metsola had every right to de- cide to stay in Brussels, and now that she has confirmed that she won't return to the local political scene, the PN can move forward onto the next chapter whilst the new soon-to-be elected leader won't have to be in her shadow as well. Lawyer and Labour-leaning political commentator Ezekial Psaila said Met- sola's shadow still looms over the PN, and stated a leader alone can do little to change the party's faith, if they do not have the proper team around them. He said he doesn't believe Metsola's story in Malta is over as her tenure as the President of the European Parliament is ending in two years' time, around the same year the next General Election is expected to take place, and hence her re- fusing the position now could've been a strategic move. Former Labour MP Gino Cauchi said that Bernard Grech's resignation was tai- lored around the possibility of Roberta Metsola returning to take the position. Former Nationalist MP Clyde Puli said Grech's resignation was an expected shock, as there were moments where it was visible he didn't have control over his party. Puli said insisted Grech should have resigned in 2022, not a year or two before the next general election. Puli stated that he doesn't believe that Adrian Delia and Alex Borg will contest against each other, as Delia served as a political mentor to Borg, hence it would be a show of respect. Delia announced his decision to run on Monday. He insisted the PN should choose "ra- tionality over anger", criticising the re- cent outbursts in parliament which were more emotional than rational. He was referring to Karol Aquilina's rant against the Speaker earlier this year. Cauchi said the PN has no chance of winning the next election, as the same people who ousted Delia in his first term as leader, will not remain idle this time round. Lawyer and former Nationalist MP Franco Debono