Search for Cabinet members

The media has been full of coverage and opinion pieces on the famous Wikileaks documents quoting a communication from former US Ambassador Molly Bordonaro reporting back home about a statement made by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi about available Cabinet material. He was first reported as stating that it was a pity that Malta’s Constitution did not allow the choice of ministers from outside the parliamentary group. This prevented a Prime Minister from appointing valid persons from the business sector and academia. The Prime Minister has issued a statement maintaining that he never discussed particular members of his parliamentary group with the ambassador. He had just pointed out that, unlike the United States (and Italy for that matter), where the President is free to choose any person to form part of his Cabinet, the Prime Minister could not do this in Malta.

I suppose we have no reason to doubt the sincerity of Dr Gonzi’s statement but, on the other hand, I do not believe that he made just a passing comment. There must certainly have been something on his mind and, specifically, that he was concerned with the Cabinet material available to him. And, whatever some backbenchers have been stating, this is the truth. Those eligible to a Cabinet post have dwindled over the years, and certainly since the Fenech Adami days, and are set to dwindle further come the next election.

Leading personalities, love them or hate them, have either moved on, are set to move on, not stood for election or simply not been elected. I suspect that this may be the true reason for the Prime Minister significantly reducing the portfolios in his Cabinet and, as a result, his ministers, and not the purported aim to reduce costs. Look at the controversial increase in politicians’ salaries after all.

There are a number of parliamentary secretaries, who, technically and strictly speaking, are not members of the Cabinet. In this sense, I would add a rider to the effect that, notwithstanding what I have said above, there are a number of parliamentary secretaries who have the stature of ministers, both in capabilities and in the load they effectively carry within the ministries in which they serve, and these should be promoted. Three just come to mind: Mario de Marco, Jason Azzopardi and Chris Said. This would make for a larger Cabinet.

The Prime Minister, who has made miracles to keep his parliamentary group in the face of assaults from young rebels therein, chose to placate these rebels by creating the post of parliamentary assistant within all his ministries. I doubt he could have done otherwise in the circumstances but fail to understand the actual function and contribution of these individuals to the national effort, being a burden on our coffers (something Dr Gonzi wanted to save) just the same. With due respect to those concerned, their role seems to be as reserves to stand in for ministers at some launching or presentation or other.

If one now looks at the Labour Party, Joseph Muscat, as future Prime Minister, has even more of a problem than the present incumbent. The valid material within the PL parliamentary group still falls short of that in the Nationalist Party.

Is Dr Muscat in agreement with Dr Gonzi on the point that it is a pity that Malta has not adopted the American or other systems of direct Cabinet appointments? It would be interesting to hear his views on this. If he harbours the same views as, or, shall we say, the concerns of the Prime Minister, or even his idea, to put it mildly, might this not be the time, with two years to the election (and thanks to Wikileaks) for the two parties to put their heads together to amend the Constitution accordingly?

As I have written on more than one occasion in the past, there are many very valid individuals out there, from the business sector, academia and other for a, who are willing to form part of a Cabinet but not prepared to go through the rigmarole of elections, including canvassing (such as endless house visits and having to be “nice” and smiley, if not downright hypocritical to all and sundry).

Ministers will then do what they are expected to do well, without the accusation of having neglected their constituents and the risk of not being re-elected (and it has happened!). Members of Parliament can then fully concentrate on what they were elected to do – represent the people, some of them coming down from their high horses and taking care of the needs and aspirations of those who elected them. Should anyone complain that MPs will lose their clout or effectiveness, then I would invite them to have a look at the US Congress to allay their fears.

One final point. Congratulations to Eddie Aquilina and his organisation for taking the initiative of erecting billboards promoting the environment. This is public spirit at its best and I don’t need to remind him where that came from! Keep it up. There are so many other areas to promote.