The Nationalist Party is willing to work with the Government on Constitutional reforms as long as the right conditions are in place, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has said.

The PN, which started a process of renewal after losing the general election, believed it should be a “strong” and “constructive” Opposition, Dr Busuttil said.

Together with the recently-elected party executive, Dr Busuttil paid a courtesy visit to President George Abela at the Palace.

You were a symbol of national unity and you went beyond what was expected in that role

He insisted the party had made a “generational leap”. While it would state when it disagreed with the Government, it would also say when it agreed for the sake of national interest.

Dr Busuttil told the President: “You were a symbol of national unity and you went beyond what was expected in that role.”

Turning to constitutional reform, Dr Busuttil said Dr Abela was ideal to guarantee its renewal and revision, which was an “important process”.

The President said it was important for a solid democracy to have a strong Opposition to scrutinise the work of the Government and contribute towards improving the country.

Malta was already going through a number of constitutional reforms, such as the one targeting the justice sector, he pointed out.

“We need to agree – the Government and Opposition – about the way we go about reforms so that the needed change will come about,” Dr Abela said.

The time had come to start the process of making these changes and “nothing must interfere” especially once there was “goodwill”.

All this had to take place while respecting the two-thirds majority required in Parliament, he added.

Dr Abela said the time had come to have a “worthy” Constitution that came from the people, and not imposed upon them.