University academics today issued a statement calling for good governance, transparency and accountability.

In the context of the imminent election, the 137 academics said they are expressing a collective view, not dependent on our specific political preferences, in the hope of being of service to the community, including our students - past, present and future.

To this end, we have restricted ourselves to the principle of good governance, which we believe should be the most important criterion by which government performance is assessed. We note that corruption eradicates good governance, and, in the absence of good governance, corruption flourishes. We also note that a strong public trust in the institutions is fundamental for the good functioning of democracy and for the well-being of the people.

In line with this principle, we believe that any government should:

a. Follow the rule of law: Everyone, including government itself, is accountable to laws which are equally enforced and are independently adjudicated.

b. Be accountable: Political leaders must be answerable for the consequences of decisions they make on behalf of the country.

c. Be transparent: Transparency allows the electorate to understand and scrutinise the decision-making process ensuring that decisions are taken in the interest of the common good.

d. Be equitable and inclusive: The country’s wellbeing can only be assured if the interests of all, including future generations and especially the most vulnerable in society, are taken into consideration.

e. Be meritocratic: The best people are selected according to merit rather than by political affiliation or nepotism, thus allowing everyone to aspire to fulfil their potential.

It is our duty to ask those vying to govern Malta to uphold these values and to work towards strengthening public trust in the institutions.

The academics who signed the statement are listed below.