Opposition calls for PM's resignation

The opposition is asking for the resignation of Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami following the Constitutional Court's ruling that he violated two senior judges' right to a fair trial over bribery charges.

Anglu Farrugia, the Labour Party's main spokesman on justice, noted that the court had established that Dr Fenech Adami's comments, made in an August 2002 news conference went against the Constitution and the European Convention on the Protection of Human and Fundamental Rights.

Dr Farrugia said it was evident that the two judges' fundamental right to a fair hearing had been breached.

"I insist that Dr Fenech Adami should resign with immediate effect. The decision of the court has derailed the procedures and therefore the public will be deprived from seeing justice done because of the irresponsible actions of the prime minister," said Dr Farrugia.

On Thursday, Dr Fenech Adami noted that the Constitutional Court had made it clear that the criminal case against former chief justice Noel Arrigo and Judge Patrick Vella could continue.