Prime Minister Robert Abela's continued failure to make public the 2023 asset declarations of his Cabinet, combined with his evasive responses, paints a troubling picture of a government that seems increasingly comfortable with opacity. As the debate rages on, one year has passed and we now expect that the declarations for 2024 will also see the light of day.

Although the Standards Commissioner has decided not to pursue further investigations due to a lack of legal obligation, the underlying issue remains urgent: the public has a right to know the financial interests of its leaders. Reform may be on the table, but until it is enacted, past practices of public disclosure must resume - without delay.

What is especially concerning is the Prime Minister's resistance to simply continue a longstanding practice. For years, these declarations were routinely tabled in Parliament. Now, citing the lack of a legal obligation, the Prime Minister prefers to hide behind procedure rather than uphold the spirit of transparency.

And so, we ask the same questions that we made in February on the same issue: "What is listed in these assets that could in any way harm the Labour Party, or a particular minister, or a number of them? Why is Abela so reluctant to stick to the practice that was followed by successive Prime Ministers - including Abela himself when he took over the reins of the country in 2020? What has changed in the past year to push Abela to decide not to continue the exercise?"

The Commissioner has acknowledged that the system needs urgent reform. Even the Prime Minister appears to agree, suggesting a unified declaration for all MPs, ministers included. But talk of reform rings hollow if, in the interim, basic transparency is abandoned. It is unacceptable for the Prime Minister to use the promise of future reform as cover for present-day secrecy.

Reform must indeed come, and it must ensure that declarations are comprehensive, independently verified, and made public. When this happens, the standards related to transparency in such matters should be raised, not lowered. In other words, when the reform eventually takes place, there should be more accountability, not more secrecy.

But in the meantime, the government must honour past norms and table all declarations without delay. The public's trust depends on more than compliance with technicalities; it demands openness and a demonstrable commitment to ethical governance.

By failing to proactively disclose his Cabinet's financial declarations, the Prime Minister undermines public confidence and gives weight to suspicions of impropriety. While no laws may have been broken, the political message sent is unmistakable: this government is more concerned with shielding itself than with earning the people's trust.

The Prime Minister must take immediate steps to restore public confidence. He should lead by example and publish the 2023 and 2024 asset declarations in full. Parliament should enshrine clear legal obligations for timely and public disclosure. Reform must not dilute standards but raise them - and until then, established practices of transparency must be respected.

Until such time, the question will continue to echo loudly across Malta: what is Robert Abela trying to hide?