The controversy that ensued after it was decided not to confirm Michael Pace Ross at the helm of the National Statistics Office was “a storm in a teacup”, according to Finance Minister Edward Scicluna.
“Whenever the term of a director general is over, the person concerned has to apply once again to be considered for the post and this is never reported in the news,” the minister said.
The one in question was an “important” post and, therefore, the government would issue an international call to ensure that a highly qualified person would run the NSO.
“This does not stop the individual [Mr Pace Ross] from reapplying for the post,” Prof. Scicluna said when asked by Times of Malta for his reaction to criticism levelled by the Nationalist Party.
In a statement, the PN expressed concern about the lack of “transparency” at the NSO, remarking that the job change would have gone unnoticed were it not for the media.
On Tuesday, this newspaper reported that Mr Pace Ross was no longer director general following a decision by the Malta Statistics Authority (MSA) not to renew his contract.
Joe Bonello has been appointed acting director general on a temporary basis.
The PN said that such a decision should have been formally announced by the MSA, which, the party added, was also bound to inform international agencies including Eurostat.
The party also stressed the NSO’s autonomy, saying that this was crucial to maintain the country’s reputation.
Any decision to influence the choice of the new director general and transform the NSO into a government department would be very dangerous as it might lead to a financial collapse like the one experienced in Greece, the PN warned.
In reaction, the government said the MSA had informed Eurostat on November 7, adding that an announcement was made on the Malta Government Gazette on the same day.
The government said that under the Nationalist administration the post of director general remained vacant between January 2007 and November 2008.
It rejected criticism on lack of autonomy at the NSO, adding that data was verified by the European Commission as part of the changeover to the European System of National and Regional Accounts and the Excessive Deficit Procedure.
The MSA said the appointment of the new director general would be according to the code of practice adopted by Eurostat.