“The Republic of Malta is sick,” the ADPD-The Green Party Chairperson Sandra Gauci said on the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Malta. 

“Whilst we celebrate this historical national milestone achieved 50 years ago, our county is now at a crossroads and needs to recognize how many fundamental aspects, so necessary for a strong democracy, have been eaten away, weakening our democracy,” Gauci commented.  “It is shameful that after 50 years, governance has hit rock bottom.” 

“It is now a given that hardly a week goes by without some discovery of abuse of power, corruption, and clientelism from people entrusted with the governance of the country, treating the country as their own personal property.  It is obvious that our country is paying a high price for the foot-dragging of ‘traditional’ politicians on both sides of the House failing to make the necessary changes to safeguard and strengthen good governance,” the ADPD leader said.

“The constitutional reform that was promised for years has remained on the shelf because it was not a priority for neither the Labour Party nor the Nationalist Party.  For both, the constitution as it is quite convenient for them because it guarantees nearly absolute power to incumbents.  We are now experiencing this as a result of the weak constitution that does not offer checks and balances that are essential in safeguarding democracy from the abuse of power”, Gauci said.

“Parliament, considered to be the highest institution in the country, is being silenced by appointing backbenchers on many boards, frequently with higher salaries than those of ministers, so as to effectively buy their silence.  The constitutional appointments, including the appointment of the Electoral Commission and the Broadcasting Authority amongst others, are split between the party in government and the opposition party, effectively making the appointees the puppets of those who appoint them. The national broadcaster is hijacked by the incumbent government, practically making any criticism and investigative journalism inexistent.  Electoral law is being modelled to serve the interest of the Labour Party and the Nationalist Parties, systematically discriminating against any third voices entering Parliament.”

“It is crystal clear that accountability in public life is considered a luxury.  Scandals like phantom consultancies, the Vitals hospital scam, the rash employment of persons of trust in ministries, the undeclared revenue of parliamentarians, political parties in debt with the VAT Department and ARMS, the driving licence scandal, the complicity of ministers in the recent social benefits scandal, amongst others, are a clear symptom of a sick republic.  In addition to this, there is party financing by the construction industry, which in turn fuels the national destruction permitted by the Planning Authority, in the process fattening the pockets of the few,” she added.

She noted that ADPD-The Green Party had presented detailed documentation of nearly 40 pages long on constitutional change, full of proposals to modernise the Republic. Amongst these we mention the need for a president to be a guardian of the constitution, and to be given the power to return any laws going against the constitution back to Parliament.

ADPD also proposed for the need for other measures, such as parliamentary representation directly reflecting votes cast, electoral lists that support gender balance, changes to the appointment of the president, constitutional bodies and commissions, a Broadcasting Authority answerable to Parliament, digital rights included in the constitution, as well as the inclusion of the propositive referendum, amongst other proposals. 

“What has happened to the constitutional reform process?  In whose interest has this process been halted?” Gauci questioned.  “The greatest celebration ever of the Republic would be the continuation of the process of constitutional reform that reflects a modern Maltese Republic. Instead it seems that we have a sick Republic of Malta stuck in the past.”

 ADPD-The Green Party insisted that unless the country breaks away from a rigged system hijacked by the so called ‘traditional’ PL and PN, our country can never heal from bad governance.  “It is the pluralism of voices from all sectors of society that will lead to the rule of law, accountability and good governance being respected.”