Lawyer Ingrid Zammit Young has written to the Prime Minister saying she did not want to be considered for the post in light of of all the doubts surrounding her nomination. (See attached pdf link).

The Commission for the Administration of Justice this afternoon advised the Prime Minister that there was a possibility that Dr Zammit Young was not eligible to be made magistrate, sources confirmed.

The decision was sent to the Prime Minister, who had originally requested the advice. The government published the letter this afternoon. (See attached pdf link).

Commission's decision confirms government breached the Constitution - PN

In a statement, the Nationalist Party said the Commission’s decision confirmed that Justice Minister Owen Bonnici had breached the Constitution.

This, it said, was another condemnation by a Constitutional authority to the Joseph Muscat government.

The decision showed that Dr Bonnici’s decision, approved by Cabinet, was irresponsible, illegal and abusive.

The Opposition said that had it not been for its intervention, the government would have plodded on with its decision.

It said that the government should have withdrawn Dr Zammit Young’s nomination rather than wait until she withdrew it herself. This showed that the government lacked the political courage to stop its abusive action.

This case, the Opposition said, confirmed how dangerous the government was and had it not been for its actions, it would have acted unconstitutionally.