UPDATED: Government-Opposition agree on nomination of Auditor-General

The government and the opposition today agreed on the nomination of the Auditor-General and the Deputy Auditor General.

Informed sources said Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had nominated Anthony Mifsud as Auditor-General and Charles Deguara as his deputy.

Labour Party leader Joseph Muscat wrote to Dr Gonzi today to say that the opposition agreed with the nominations.

Mr Mifsud is Permanent Secretary at the Resources Ministry and Mr Deguara is Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs.

Dr Gonzi first proposed the names a year ago and reiterated his proposal in a letter to Dr Muscat yesterday.

Dr Muscat in his letter said the opposition also agreed with the Prime Minister on talks on reforming the Permanent Commission Against Corruption and suggested that the judiciary could also be involved in this process.

Dr Muscat said all this showed that Labour was truly determined to see a new political season in Malta.

He urged the Prime Minister to accept his request for urgent talks on proposals he had made in a letter yesterday, namely a party funding law, a law to regulate the activities of a caretaker government, resources for MPs, changes in the way the management and editorial boards of PBS are appointed, amendments to the the electoral law , justice for those whose cases were upheld by the Ombudsman and the Tribunal for the Investigation of Injustices, and a capping of government revenue on fuel duty.

Dr Muscat said the MLP was ready to discuss reforms to the electoral law mentioned by Dr Gonzi yesterday along with others such as the criteria for eligibility for a vote, which could possibly be linked to where people paid their taxes, the use of ID cards and a new definition of corrupt practices.

With the implementation of these proposals, the MLP would be ready to discuss parliamentary procedures, standing orders and the appointment of the Speaker, Dr Muscat said.

They could then pass on to other points raised by Dr Gonzi yesterday, and others he wished to raise, Dr Muscat said.