Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Nationalist leader Simon Busuttil share a light moment. Photos: Chris Sant Fournier

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has drawn a red line on the prohibition of private practice for ministers as the Government updates the 1994 ethics code.

Dr Busuttil said it was good that rules and codes were updated and the Nationalist Party would be giving a detailed reaction when the Government presents its proposal.

“But each side will have its red lines and the PN believes that when someone accepts to form part of Cabinet he cannot carry on with his private practice,” Dr Busuttil said when asked about the matter after meeting Prime Minister Joseph Muscat at the PN headquarters in Pietà.

Dr Muscat and a delegation from the Labour Party were reciprocating a visit Dr Busuttil made to Labour headquarters two weeks ago soon after becoming PN leader.

The Government is in the process of updating the 19-year-old code of ethics although no time frame has been set for its conclusion. The current code does not allow Cabinet members to perform private practice, even if this is done for free.

There was goodwill from both sides to ensure the party media treated either side in ‘a decent way’

Parliamentary Secretary Franco Mercieca and Foreign Minister George Vella have continued seeing patients.

Dr Mercieca, an eye specialist, was given a special waiver by Dr Muscat to continue practising privately in a limited way while Dr Vella has acknowledged giving medical advice to constituents who ask for it.

During yesterday’s visit the two leaders agreed they would meet more often and high-level delegations from both parties will hold talks with open agendas every two months.

Dr Busuttil called for a less antagonistic approach by the political party media and Dr Muscat agreed.

The PN leader said he was ready to contribute to making politics a positive experience, adding he was willing to see party media “calm down”.

Speaking after the meeting, Dr Muscat said there was goodwill from both sides to ensure the party media treated either side in “a decent way”.

Asked whether the Government would take up a suggestion by Dr Busuttil to reintroduce the Opposition Nominees Act for Opposition nominations to the boards of government agencies, Dr Muscat said he was open to suggestions and discussion.

The two delegations held a 30-minute meeting behind closed doors but the introductory comments that were made in front of the press were accompanied by two light-hearted moments.

With the meeting being held on the third floor, Dr Busuttil moved the vertical blinds with his hands after Labour deputy leader Toni Abela asked to see whether the Labour headquarters was in a direct line of sight.

“That’s why I keep my curtains closed,” Dr Abela joked as the red and white glass building became clearly visible some 200 metres away. It was probably also the reason why the vertical blinds were drawn shut, he added.

Dr Muscat said he last visited the PN headquarters five years ago when he became Labour leader.

“I met my predecessor... or rather your predecessor... our predecessor,” he said, using the Labour election slogan Tagħna Lkoll (Malta for all).

Dr Busuttil took the cue and with a smile told the Prime Minister that everything was Tagħna Lkoll now, “except nominees to public agencies”.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com