PL MP Edward Zammit Lewis is blaming the Nationalist Party and other critics as his nomination to the General Court of the European Union has not been accepted.
The Nationalist Party had been highly critical of his nomination, even calling it a perversion of justice and saying that it was unequivocal proof that Robert Abela's Government does not care about the national interest and is solely focused on serving the partisan interests of the Labour Party and its inner circle. It is unacceptable that, out of all the individuals who expressed interest in this role, the only person chosen was someone who was part of a government condemned by three judges for creating a climate of impunity that led to the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, the PN had said.
Zammit Lewis was nominated by the government to replace Ramona Frendo. But his nomination has been rejected, as confirmed by Justice Minister Jonathan Attard.
"I have been informed of the negative outcome of the Opinion of the Article 255 panel regarding Malta's nominee for judge at The General Court of the European Union, Dr. Edward Zammit Lewis," Attard wrote mon Facebook. "On behalf of the Government, I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Zammit Lewis for the level of commitment he demonstrated in preparing for this process. His perseverance in the face of challenges from those whose interests extended beyond the competence and skills of our Maltese candidate is truly commendable."
Writing eaelier on Facebook, Zammit Lewis did not say his nomination had been rejected, but gave clear indications that he had been turned down, and addressed those who made "baseless allegations" against him, saying "you have caused me great harm and a form of character assassination."
Zammit Lewis wrote that the process for which he was nominated has concluded. "This was a competitive process held in Malta, presided over by Retired Judge Dr. A. Mizzi, which was open for everyone to apply, provided that they met the necessary qualifications. I have always felt it was unethical to write while the process was still ongoing, out of respect for the European Union institution and the Maltese Government that nominated me."
He said that on Tuesday he attended an interview in Brussels, "during which I was asked, among other things, not whether I POSSESS the qualifications to occupy this position, but about other matters that have nothing to do with the position for which I was nominated. An unacceptable doubt was cast on the process that was carried out in our country, led by a retired judge alongside honest and competent individuals in the public service-a process far more transparent than those held in other Member States-and other questions unrelated to the merit of the nomination. I will not say more because I do not feel it is ethically appropriate to do so," he said in his post.
"Nevertheless, I want to start by sincerely thanking everyone who supported me throughout this process. I also thank and forgive all those who, for their own interests or even personal gain, relentlessly undermined my nomination from within and outside Malta, even before I was nominated-always for their own interests and not those of Malta. This includes the Nationalist Party, which I will openly state, with many celebrated Ministers of Justice in the past, failed to achieve in decades what I accomplished in seven months!"
"Some even went as far as to repeatedly write to the Committee of Experts-the same committee I had to appear before as per the European Union Treaty - with allegations that were baseless and led to nothing! I conclude by telling you that you have caused me great harm and a form of character assassination. However, the greatest harm was not done to me personally. I will continue to move forward despite all the obstacles, and I assure you of this," the PL MP said.
"The greatest harm was done to your own country-Our Malta. You never learn! Such harm and malice is a nuisance to people and they are not the kind of politics our country needs right now! I will continue working and contributing in Parliament for the good of my country. Thank you once again."
A government spokesperson would neither confirm nor deny that the nomination was rejected or accepted.
The former minister is not the first Maltese nominee to be turned down for the post: former Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri and former judge Joseph Filletti also had nominations turned down in the past.
The government will now have to nominate another person instead of Zammit Lewis.
Zammit Lewis, a lawyer by profession, had served as Tourism Minister and Justice Minister in successive Labour administrations. Calls for his resignation had been made in 2021 when Whatsapp chats showing his close relationship with Yorgen Fenech, who is accused of being a mastermind behind the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, had been exposed. Leaked WhatsApp chats, which took place before Fenech's alleged involvement in the murder was publicly known, showed the relationship, and Zammit Lewis gained particular attention for describing Labour Party voters as 'Ġaħan' - which is a derogatory term translating to 'fools'. He had later apologised for the remark.
He had resisted those calls, but paid the price in 2022 when he was not included in the Cabinet of Ministers and has since served as an MP on the backbench.