Only Tony Abbott can decide whether or not he should continue in politics, says fellow former prime minister and Liberal Party elder John Howard.
Sections of the party have been pressing for Mr Abbott to retire at the next election after a tumultuous week for the Liberals.
"If Tony Abbott wants to stay in parliament he's got the right to do so," Mr Howard told a Canberra Writers Festival event on Sunday.
Mr Abbott was an increasingly public critic of Malcolm Turnbull who was dispatched from the top job in a leadership challenge by Peter Dutton, which he then lost to Scott Morrison.
Mr Howard refused to criticise Mr Abbott or Mr Turnbull, saying he had provided counsel to them in the past.
In a wide-ranging talk, Mr Howard acknowledged the political environment had become more fractured globally and social media was playing an influence.
However, he implored political leaders to engage with all sections of the media.
"I just think we've got to have a more mature attitude, the press is part of the system," he said.
"If you don't like the deal you're getting from the press what you've got to do is engage them and confront them and disagree with them - you can't be any worse off."
Mr Howard also said it was vital for the prime minister to maintain a good relationship with his party.
"You've got to give a clear idea of what you stand for, you've got to stand for things," Mr Howard said.
"And the other thing is you've got to maintain a very close relationship with the people you immediately lead and the people that a prime minister immediately leads is the members of his parliamentary party.
"That is the most crucial relationship you have."
