Robert Abela is set to become Malta’s prime minister after being elected leader of the ruling party, and is seen as a continuity leader in the wake of a scandal over the murder of an investigative journalist.

Mr Abela, a 42-year-old lawyer, faces a turbulent political environment after the forced exit of Joseph Muscat in the wake of the controversy.

Mr Muscat announced his resignation last month, surrendering to political pressure and widespread public anger over his alleged attempt to protect his allies from a probe into the 2017 killing of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Mr Muscat has repeatedly denied any involvement in the journalist’s murder, promising to do whatever possible to find out who plotted and executed it.

However, when it emerged in November that some of his friends and closest political allies were involved in the probe, popular protests mounted, with thousands of people marching in the streets of Valletta to urge Mr Muscat’s immediate resignation.