Shadow Minister Jason Azzopardi lambasted Justice Minister Owen Bonnici for his recent “double gaffe” in the nomination of magistrates accusing him of “nepotism of unprecedented levels”.

Reiterating that Dr Bonnici and the Prime Minister approved the nomination of two lawyers to become magistrates against the provisions of the Constitution, Dr Azzopardi said that never in recent history had a lawyer been nominated to serve as a magistrate without the necessary experience.

Referring to the nomination of Caroline Farrugia Frendo, the Speaker’s daughter, who has yet to reach the seven years’ experience requisite for such a nomination, Dr Bonnici said this showed that Labour was ready to discard the Constitution for political favours.

Dr Azzopardi said the Prime Minister and Dr Bonnici also deliberately nominated Dr Ingrid Zammit Young even though they knew they could not.

He said that had it not been for the Opposition leader to draw the attention of the President the government would have made an unconstitutional nomination.

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