Only one thing can be worse than an irresponsible media and that is a politician expecting to tell journalists what to do. The matter becomes even more serious when such a call is made by a senior Cabinet member who also happens to be the country’s supreme diplomat.
Whether Foreign Minister George Vella had in mind control of the media or self-regulation, as he specified after his outburst in Parliament on Wednesday night, his conduct is unbecoming.
His comments on the media come at a time when the press has been accusing him of breaching the ministerial code of ethics and criticising him for banning journalists from taking their mobile phones into his office. It seems the ban has now been overruled by the Office of the Prime Minister.
As to the code, a person who voluntarily accepts to form part of a set-up governed by a set of guidelines cannot then just decide to ignore them.
The Code of Ethics for Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries, launched in January 1994, is very clear: “As soon as a minister is appointed, it is expected of him not to continue with his private work. He should devote his whole time to his official duties. The prohibition covers also consultancies, attendance at offices/clinics to give professional advice, etc., even if the work is not remunerated.”
So, as a doctor, Dr Vella cannot continue seeing people at his home and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat should stop trying to let him off the hook by saying they are his ‘constituents’.
If Dr Muscat wants to allow professionals in his Cabinet to continue practising, he should either amend the code or drop it altogether. Though he did not give details, Dr Muscat did say the code is being revised. The sooner that is done the better.
Prior to his outburst on the media in Parliament, Dr Vella had already accused Times of Malta of going on witch-hunts against Labour ministers on “trivialities”. Having a senior Cabinet minister openly challenging a code of ethics is no triviality.
The argument made by Dr Vella that he also has to observe his ethics as a doctor can be made by all professionals in the Cabinet. Thus, if Dr Vella’s argument is accepted, a can of worms will be opened. To be fair with him, it was already opened when Parliamentary Secretary Franco Mercieca, an eye specialist, was granted the waiver. But, at least, in that case there was a request and a decision by the Prime Minister.
It is not clear whether a similar request was made by Dr Vella though the Prime Minister has stuck up for him too. It has not been announced, so far, at least, that Dr Vella was given a waiver similar to that granted to Mr Mercieca.
Dr Muscat may not think that the ministerial code of ethics is being breached. Many are likely to disagree and the situation cannot be tolerated any longer.
If Dr Vella expects the media to practise self-regulation, he and his Cabinet colleagues should lead by example. A well-drafted code of ethics is an essential component if self-regulation is to be successful.
Regrettably, the media in this country has yet to agree on a common code of ethics. Cabinet ministers, on the other hand, have a very detailed one which, admittedly, might need some adjustments.
Yet, until that is done, they must abide by the rules of their ‘club’.