Repubblika has called for the substitution of lawyer Pawlu Lia as the government's representative on the Commission for the Administration of Justice, arguing that there is a conflict of interest, as well as because of his association with former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

The NGO published a letter signed by its Repubblika President Robert Aquilina, where he addressed Prime Minister Robert Abela over Lia's position.

Aquilina said that Lia's position in its present form is, "a shadow on the independence of the judiciary and on justice in our country," for three reasons.

The first reason is that Lia, who was appointed by Muscat, is a lawyer who practices in the courts under the authority of judges and magistrates who may end up appearing before him as a member of the Commission, Aquilina said.

Aqulina said that this is a conflict that prejudices the independence of the judges, not necessarily out of fear, but because every party who appears in court before Lia "is right to fear that justice will not be done for them."

Aquilina's second reason is that Lia is closely related to a member of the judiciary. He said that this conflict of interested is being debated in the superior courts, and that government must avoid appointing relatives of judges to this position.

The third reason it gave is that Lia was and still is the lawyer of the Prime Minister who appointed him (Joseph Muscat), who was involved in a number of magisterial inquiries "which could end in prosecutions," Aquilina said.

The NGO called for an immediate replacement of Lia, and said that government should appoint a person who will be able to fulfil the function in the Commission.