Robert Abela's Government has been dealt yet another reprimand for its lack of transparency and good governance. This follows Abela's decision to abolish the long-standing practice whereby ministers publish declarations of their assets and income, as had been done for years, the Nationalist Party said Thursday.

In a letter addressed directly to the Prime Minister, which was published today together with a statement, the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life "was crystal clear," the PN said. What Robert Abela and the Government are doing is not acceptable in a democracy that demands the highest level of transparency from those in positions of leadership.

Abela and his colleagues failed to table their declarations of assets for 2023 in Parliament. Nor did they submit their declarations of assets for 2024, the PN said.

And now, all of a sudden, the Cabinet has decided to eliminate this obligation and, instead, Ministers will only submit the declaration of assets required of every Member of Parliament, which is less detailed, the party said. This effectively means that Ministers will no longer be declaring their income, nor the financial investments and bank accounts held by their spouses - information which is required in the Ministers' form but not in that of Members of Parliament, the PN said.

The Commissioner for Standards, former Chief Justice Joseph Azzopardi, said that this constitutes a setback for transparency in public administration, adding that it sends a very negative message.

He insisted on the need for a strong ethical framework, particularly for Ministers, given the powers they wield and the resources to which they have access, the party added.

The PN said it aligns itself with the Commissioner for Standards in his appeal to the Prime Minister and all Government Ministers to subject themselves to public scrutiny, if they truly have nothing to hide from the people who elected them.

"Our country cannot withstand any further blows to transparency and governance. Our people deserve far better."

PL responds

The PL, in response, said that the "PN's contradictions are matched only by its disregard for truth."

"Contrary to what the Nationalist Party is alleging, all Cabinet members have declared their assets and financial interests to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. In addition to that, the government is determined to reform the system so that there is no distinction in the reporting obligations that exist for different Members of Parliament."

"The Nationalist Party speaks about standards in public life according to what suits it and according to who is involved. The inconsistency of the Nationalist Party is most evident when the Leader of the Opposition himself was found not to have told the truth when he was talking about the agreement regarding Fort Chambray. And the PN did not hesitate to take advantage of the decision of the Commissioner for Standards when he said that he did not have the tools to find the Leader of the Opposition guilty when he repeated false statements about generic medicine."

Malta cannot afford leaders who hide their wealth - Momentum

Momentum, in reaction to the report, insists that Malta can no longer tolerate a political culture where ministers shield their wealth from public scrutiny.

"Those entrusted with the highest offices must set the highest standards. Instead, the actions of Prime Minister Robert Abela and his Cabinet are taking the country backwards on transparency and accountability."

The Standards Commissioner has confirmed that Cabinet members, including the Prime Minister, failed to submit ministerial asset declarations for 2024, Momentum said. "This breaks with long-established practice and replaces a detailed and public declaration system with a weaker parliamentary one that is subject to less scrutiny."

Arnold Cassola, Leader of Momentum, said: "This decision is not a technical reform. It has serious consequences. Under the MPs' declaration system, ministers no longer declare their income, financial investments, or bank accounts held by their spouses and partners. These were previously mandatory disclosures for ministers. The result is a deliberate reduction in transparency at the very top of government."

Momentum has long expressed its concern that ministerial asset declarations are no longer being published. "While the Office of the Prime Minister claims that declarations are accessible through the Speaker, the Standards Commissioner has clearly stated that MPs' declarations are not made public in the same way ministerial declarations were. This lack of public oversight is critical, especially in cases that have raised questions, such as the Minister Galdes' penthouse purchase," the party said.

"The Commissioner has also confirmed that ministers are technically in breach of their own Code of Ethics, which obliges them to submit annual declarations to the Cabinet Secretary. The fact that no action can be taken because the Commissioner lacks the power to investigate Cabinet decisions only highlights how accountability mechanisms are being hollowed out from within."

Momentum believes that reform should strengthen standards, not weaken them. "Any genuine reform of the asset declaration system must increase transparency, require full disclosure of ministers' and their partners' assets, and guarantee automatic public access. Anything less is a retreat from democratic accountability."

"This is precisely why we previously proposed the Public Integrity Act. We believe the current honour system for declaring assets is laughable. Our proposal mandates that the National Audit Office professionally audit every elected official's asset statement within 90 days of taking office and every year thereafter. This Act would empower the Auditor General to access bank statements, property records, and tax data for verification. Crucially, any official who lies or hides assets would face criminal prosecution, ensuring real consequences for a breach of public trust."

Malta deserves leaders who lead by example, not leaders who change the rules to avoid scrutiny, Momentum said. "Trust in public institutions depends on transparency, and transparency begins with those in power."