The issue of revolving doors – the practice by which politicians are recruited by the private sector in areas that previously fell under the portfolio, or vice versa – should have been included in a law governing standards in public life, AD Vice Chairman Carmel Cacopardo writes in an opinion piece published today.

The Alternattiva Demokratika politician describes revolving door recruitment as an exercise in selling and purchasing access to the decision-taking process. “It is high time that it is placed under a continuous spotlight,” he writes.  

Mr Cacopardo makes reference to an article published in The Malta Independent on Sunday, in which former PN Minister John Dalli denied being involved in such a scenario when he ordered the transfer of Qormi land to Marsovin through an ‘unusual’ deal and later went to work with the company as its chairman.

“The issue is much wider,” Mr Cacopardo writes. “It is a matter which is of concern in respect of the manner of operation of lobbying which in this country is largely unregulated. It has already happened not just in Mr Dalli’s recruitment with the Marsovin Group but also when the Corinthia Group recruited both Mr Dalli as well as current EU Commissioner Karmenu Vella. It concerns both holders of political office as well as senior civil servants, including senior officers of authorities exercising executive authority.”

He says Malta has much to learn from other countries on how such recruitment should be regulated while also arguing that the issue is not limited to ministers but is also applicable to senior civil servants from the wider public sector.

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