Your correspondent, Tom Hauser from Germany, has narrated meticulously the story of Helmut Kohl’s downfall (TMID, 19 November). I have no reason, and no interest, to contest the facts as he states them.

The point I made in my article Accountability is the soul of democracy (TMID, 10 November) was about ministerial responsibility and accountability to Parliament.

I referred, among other things, to various instances of impropriety, and that’s how the Helmut Kohl incident came in.

In this case, secret party financing was involved. Dr Kohl fell foul of Parliament because he did not disclose the source.

In a viable democracy, accountability to Parliament is paramount. And the German Parliament was adamant in upholding this principle when it came to the test.

J. G. Vassallo

St. Julian’s