Wardens have been ordered to clamp down on Ministers' abusive parking in Valletta, which is particularly noticeable at the top of Merchants Street.

Three ministerial cars as well as a number of other government rental cars were spotted parked on either side of the supposedly pedestrianised Merchants Street this week.

The Office of the Prime Minister, Energy Minister, Health Secretariat, Foreign Affairs Ministry and Tourism Ministry are all located in the vicinity.

Contacted by The Malta Independent, Valletta Mayor Alexiei Dingli said no special concession has been given for Ministers to park their cars there, and wardens have been asked to enforce the no parking rule.

As far back as July 2014, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister's office had promised that such abusive parking would be stopped immediately.

One year later, such immediacy is not in evidence.

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici has even gone as far as apologising when his car was spotted parked illegally in Merchants Street "without his knowledge," but nothing has been done to halt the practice.

Ministers car were often spotted doubled parked outside Castille during Cabinet meetings, although this practice will hopefully stop once Castille Square project has been completed.

Escaping the hot air

Another frivolous practice often witnessed is that of Ministers' drivers keeping their cars and air conditioning running during press conference and other events.

Escaping all the hot air of politics often means that hundreds if not thousands of euros extra worth of petrol and diesel are footed by the taxpayer.