The PN has called the news that national security minister Manuel Mallia was present for interviews with security services officers as being “shocking, irregular, and without precedent.”

This morning in parliament, Dr Mallia confirmed his presence at the interviews, but claimed that he had no influence over the outcome.

“This development is shocking in a supposedly democratic country, and is a threat to individual freedom. It is unheard of for a minister for home affairs to be directly involved with the security services,” the PN said in a statement.

“The security services have massive power granted to them by law, included those of intercepting phone calls and other correspondence, with the scope of fighting crime. The PN strongly condemns this irregular interference in the functions of the security service,” the statement said.

The PN questioned whether the independence of the security services has now been compromised by the government, and whether such interference came with the Prime Minister’s approval.  

In reply, the Home Affairs and National Security Ministry said the minister had clearly stated in Parliament that he had not interfered in any selection process.

The head of the security services had felt that it would have been wise for the minister to be present for the final scrutiny of the new recruits.

The ministry urged the Nationalist Party confirm or deny whether members of the security service were imposed by PN ministers. The recruits are today not handpicked by the minister but by the head of the service.

Since the procedures require that the minister approves of the new recruits, the minister felt he needed to be present, the ministry said.