Michael Falzon lost his job as parliamentary secretary in the wake of a report by the National Audit Office on the Gaffarena land deal scandal. Six months later, the Labour MP does not return to his guaranteed job at Bank of Valletta but, instead, gets a job with the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation, a State entity.
The justification for engaging Dr Falzon as a consultant is that his expertise is required on the various projects undertaken by the corporation. His pay packet remains unchanged.
It’s not a bad deal at all for someone who had to go because of damning comments made by the Auditor General. Indeed, as the Education Minister aptly remarked a few weeks ago, there does seem to be a law for gods and another one for animals.
This case exemplifies all that is wrong with this government’s understanding of political correctness. Here is a man who had to go – it is not very clear whether he stepped down voluntarily or was forced to leave – after being accused of collusion by the NAO and, yet, instead of moving quietly to the sideline, reflecting on what could have gone wrong, is put on the public payroll.
Can anyone in government now stand up to irrational demands made by ordinary individuals who feel they are entitled to a State job or a Housing Authority apartment? Does anyone in government have the moral authority to look objectively at claims of injustice and tell people they are in the wrong if their case is unjustified?
The answer is no and it is not just the Falzon case that has rendered this government weak in this regard.
Anybody looking from the outside can see that Konrad Mizzi is still a minister shuttling between Malta and China to discuss the energy sector. Keith Schembri, the silent operator conveniently ignored by the Prime Minister whenever questions were raised on Panama Papers, still occupies his office at Auberge de Castille.
Is it little wonder then that many people, including a lot of traditional Labourites, who are expecting some form of favour – whether justified or not – from the government, are miffed when doors are shut in their face?
It is difficult in a duopolistic political system like ours that fosters clientelism to have a fair system that delivers justice where due and rejects unjustified claims. In a small society where everyone knows each other, taking the moral high ground is a perilous journey that can have electoral consequences for politicians.
But this already tenuous situation is only made worse when the highest authorities ditch any semblance of good governance to service their own ilk. The Falzon case, following hot on the heels of Panama Papers, just seems like a political class looking after itself.
It takes unfairness to a level that creates disaffection with politics. It risks undermining the rule of law as people feel obeying the rules does not pay them.
It is most unfortunate that Joseph Muscat’s government, elected overwhelmingly on a battle cry to do things differently and making this country the best in Europe, has failed to live up to its commitment.
Just after Dr Falzon’s resignation in January, the Prime Minister had told supporters in Gżira he would be tackling good governance head on. If he did, we have certainly not noticed because, since then, Dr Falzon has landed a public sector job and Dr Mizzi and Mr Schembri still exercise influence at Castille.
Maybe head-on has a different meaning for the gods up there.