The week following Michael Falzon’s appearance on Xarabank has brought frenzy to the Castille cauldron in which political strategy simmers and boils.

The NAO report was already a huge blow to Joseph Muscat himself. Today, nobody believes that the Prime Minister knew nothing of the goings-on in his own Ministry, in what has turned out to be the biggest scandal to come out of the Prime Minister’s Office.

The statements made by Michael Falzon on a TV programme, which is notorious for its gladiatorial style of debate, had the loud audience supporting the Parliamentary Secretary’s attack on a fundamental institution, the National Audit Office. The attack continued to grease the slippery slope down which Muscat’s government is fast sliding.

“Collusion” and “corruption” are the most used words throughout the last couple of weeks. Of course, since collusion means the secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy in order to deceive others and since the Gaffarena conspiracy was created at the Prime Minister’s office, then collusion is in itself implying corruption.

The PN message that Muscat’s government is the most corrupt government in the political history of our country was made very clear. It is understood perfectly by all. Muscat is not used to losing control of the headlines of our local media. He must have gone ballistic over the weekend.

Of course, the strategy from Castille was to prepare a set of rabbits which Muscat would pull out of his hat to distract the media. Full force and creativity with one aim - radical damage control.

So this week they threw at us a law which is very much a hodgepodge of many things that nobody is really talking about. Since that little trick didn’t really work as well as they hoped it would, they announced the appointment of two new female magistrates.

This was surely meant to be a positive “rabbit” out of Muscat’s hat. Young women magistrates should be very appealing for the younger voters and, of course, women. It is unfair to both lawyers to go into their personal background but there is nothing out of order in questioning the legitimacy of their appointment.

As I put pen to paper, the Chamber of Advocates has issued a statement saying that "yet again" it is expressing the serious concern of its members "at the manner in which the Minister of Justice continues to disregard the recommendations of the Bonello Commission, and of the Chamber of Advocates, on the appointment of members of the Judiciary".

The Chamber goes on to say that "each time that the minister foregoes the opportunity of implementing the recommendations of the Bonello Commission, a commission that was engaged by the Minister himself, he undermines the credibility and the political will of the Government to implement the recommended reforms to the justice system”. Furthermore, “the disregard by the minister of recommendations for institutional improvements to the judicial system will continue to erode public confidence in the system." 

And how does the justice minister, Owen Bonnici, react? He issues another statement saying he will seek the advice of the Commission for the Administration of Justice.

When will they learn? You seek advice and consult before you take a decision and way before you make announcements.

This is definitely another wrong rabbit for the Prime Minister. How can he expect the public to have confidence in him and in Owen Bonnici?

Claudette at large

This weekend, fun and frolic will hit the streets of our capital city and several other towns and villages. Look out for the strong political satire on one of the main floats at the Valletta carnival in which I feature strongly – or should I say “largely”? I met the dedicated people who created this float and I love the work they did.

Good luck to all participants.