Dom Mintoff ‘unlikely to be discharged any time soon’

Although former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff is getting better it does not seem like discharge from hospital is imminent, a ­family member told The Times yesterday.

“He is getting better, as a 94 year old. I saw him when he went in and his condition was very bad, but the situation is improving,” Mr Mintoff’s nephew Wenzu Mintoff said.

According to his nephew, the former prime minister and Labour party leader was suffering from several complications when he was admitted to Mater Dei Hospital on ­Thursday but the situation now does not seem as grave at it was then.

The 94-year-old was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit in an acute confusional state on Thursday, after being found on the floor of the roof of his Tarxien home. A CT scan confirmed he suffered a light stroke but he is also being treated for suspected pneumonia.

His brother Fr Dijonisju Mintoff said that he was looking better but had not yet recovered to his former state of health.

He said his brother had remained asleep when he visited him ­yesterday.

Since his admission to hospital, messages of support have been pouring in on timesofmalta.com wishing Mr Mintoff a speedy recovery. The Labour Party even dedicated a section of their website for well wishers to leave comments that would be relayed to Mr Mintoff and his family.

Speaking in an interview on One Radio yesterday, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said the former party leader’s hospitalisation came as a shock to him and the country. He praised the former leader for his stamina and said the family and the party was appealing for people not to call at Mater Dei.

Mr Mintoff served as Prime Minister twice between 1955 and 1958 and from 1971 to 1984. He was an MP for over half a century till 1998.

He remained at the heart of Maltese politics right up to 2003, when he campaigned against Malta joining the EU with his long-time confidant, former Labour Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici.