Independent candidate Arnold Cassola is seeking an investigation by the Standards Commissioner into Prime Minister Robert Abela for his defence of people embroiled in the driving test racket scandal.

On Tuesday, Abela defended ministers and public officers who helped people gest fast tracked for their driving tests on the grounds that this is part of the system.

"That is the way the political system works. If anyone is saying this should not apply for this country, I disagree,” the prime minister said, adding that his government helped everyone, including Opposition MPs."

Cassola said the Prime Minister is defending a corrupt system where Ministers and Labour Party insiders make recommendations and request expedited preferential treatment for those select persons who approach them. This is unethical and may have resulted in unqualified persons being given a licence in a way that imperils other road users and pedestrians, he said.

Such requests by Ministers or MPS constitute improper influence and is in breach of Paragraph 4 of the Code of Ethics. It should also have been reported according to Paragraph 5e of the Code of Ethics.

Paragraph 4 states that “while a member of the House of Representatives is in duty bound to relay the complaints of his constituents and to make representations in their name to Government authorities, the Member is expected not to use any improper influence, threats or undue pressure in the course of his duties”. 

Paragraph 5e states that the PM was expected to report to the Speaker and to the competent authorities any attempt at corruption, pressure or undue influence by third persons, aimed at influencing his conduct as a member.

Cassola contends that the way the Prime Minister is defending the Minister who exerted such improper influence and who failed to report the same to the Speaker is a breach of Paragraph 1 of the Code of Ethics which states that:

"1. A member of the House of Representatives shall at all times, both inside and outside the House, conduct himself in a manner which reflects the status and dignity of the House of Representatives. "

Defending improper influence exerted by a Minister and the Minister's failure to report to the Speaker means that the Prime Minister is not   "conducting himself in a manner which reflects the status and dignity of the House of Representatives", Cassola said.