The impeachment motion against Judge Lino Farrugia Sacco will only be moved by the government after the judge exhausts all measures afforded to him by the law, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this evening.

The case against the judge was originally started by former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi in 2012 but that motion was declared invalid because the debate had not started in the same legislature. Another motion was then moved by the Labour government, which later decided to shelve the process until after a court case – initiated by the judge – was concluded. But a court ruled this morning that there was no breach of rights in the judge’s case.

When asked whether the government will move the motion now that the court has come to a decision, or whether it would wait, Dr Muscat said this is not a question of waiting.

“Judge Farrugia Sacco has a number of measures he can resort to and he has to ensure that he is given the opportunity to use them. As soon as these measures are exhausted the government will proceed as planned.”

When asked for a reaction to this morning’s court ruling, the PM said the government will wait to see the exact wording of the sentence and the reactions to it. “The government has already made its intentions clear. We have to see how things will unfold.

Judge Farrugia Sacco is set to retire in August.

See the report about this morning’s court ruling here: http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-06-05/news/court-rejects-farrugia-saccos-claim-his-right-to-fair-hearing-was-breached-5340626944/