The Nationalist Party said Saturday that Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà’s should not have his appointment renewed when it expires in the coming days.

In a statement Saturday, the PN said that the current police commissioner should not continue to serve this role because of the “great deficiencies that emerged during his leadership of the Corps, which led to a lack of justice and law enforcement, as well as great frustration for serious officers who want to fulfil their duties.”

Through its Shadow Minister for the Interior, Security, and Reforms, Darren Carabott, the PN said that the incumbent Labour government’s inaction to remove Commissioner Angelo Gafà from this role has led to the weakening of the Malta Police Force’s reputation. The party statement also remarked that this has caused the Corps’ lack of resources, lack of recruitment numbers, and lack of motivation.

The Nationalist Party has called for Gafà’s removal on a number of instances – particularly after notable inquiries revealed his shortcomings, the party said. The party noted that in spite of this, “the Labour Government continued to give him blind trust.”

“Now that the time has come for his term to expire, since the Government has not yet made its decision, the Nationalist Party reiterates that the term should not be extended,” Carabott said.

The Nationalist Party remarked that this position is central to safeguard the rule of law in the Maltese islands, and noted that there are a number of people who are “worthy” to occupy this important position.

The statement concluded with the party’s belief that “this is an opportunity in which both sides of the House can reach a unanimous agreement” to appoint a person who is trusted by the Maltese people and who has all the necessary credentials to work for the Maltese islands without any fear or favours to anyone.

In October 2023, this newsroom published that at the time, since his appointment in June 2020, Police Commissioner Gafà had ignored at least six resignation calls.