Civil society groups are requesting the issuing of a white paper which contains the government's plans to reform the way magisterial inquiries are requested.

The appeal came Saturday in the wake of announcements made by the government that it intends to modify the way magisterial inquiries are called for. The government's proposal comes after magisterial inquiries have led to the arraignment of several top Labour officials, and requests for other magisterial inquiries made in the past weeks.

The white paper, the groups said, would give the opportunity for an open dialogue before the government proceeds with presenting the law before parliament.

Requesting a magisterial inquiry is a right all citizens have. If the government wants to remove or reduce such opportunity, it has the democratic obligation to allow citizens to express themselves.

Year after year the European Commission has said that Malta should have an obligatory process of public participation in the drawing up of laws. Until the government implements this recommendation, it should at least consult in an adequate way before it implements laws, particularly those related to the rule of law.

The present law pertaining to magisterial inquiries has been instrumental in the past years to tackle cases of corruption on which the police refused to take action, the groups said.

It is clear that without this law there would not have been prosecutions related to the hospitals deal. It is also clear that without it there will not be prosecutions related to 17 Black and Panama companies.

It is therefore essential that any changes to the law do not reduce the right for citizens to fight against corruption.

The signatories of the statement are:

Repubblika

Aditus Foundation

The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation

Għaqda Studenti tal-Liġi

#occupyjustice

PEN Malta

Żgħażagħ Ħaddiema Nsara

Kopin

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