Dom Mintoff, hospitalised on Wednesday, was showing signs of improvement yesterday though his condition remains serious.
In a medical update on Mr Mintoff the government said “he still requires further intervention in the intensive therapy unit”.
The former Prime Minister and Labour leader, 96 next month, was admitted to Mater Dei Hospital on Wednesday afternoon suffering from a chest infection.
Since then he has been given treatment to remove fluid accumulated in his lungs and has been responding.
Mr Mintoff is being managed by a multidisciplinary team consisting of intensive care physicians, nurses, cardiologists and respiratory physicians.
Over the past two years he has been in and out of hospital with numerous conditions.