Owen Bonnici took exception to comments by Beppe Fenech Adami (picture) on the Electoral Commission. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Parliamentary Secretary Owen Bonnici on Monday called on Opposition justice spokesman Beppe Fenech Adami to stop attacking the country’s institutions by mud slinging to create mistrust.

Winding up the debate in second reading of the Bill amending the Constitution and other electoral laws, Dr Bonnici took exception to Dr Fenech Adami’s comments during the debate, that experienced workers at the Electoral Commission office were substituted with employees with Labour leanings.

The Opposition had protested against the choice of Joseph Church as chief electoral commissioner and the government should not dare to use the commission for its political aims, Dr Fenech Adami said.

The Opposition MP also pointed out that the government parliamentary majority of nine should have been seven.

The PN had filed a court case to remedy this injustice. So far, the court had held 18 sittings and he urged the government not to stall the process.

Dr Bonnici countered that the Constitutional Court case instituted by the PN had been concluded by the court soon afterwards.

He tabled the court’s decision and added that one had to abide by it.

The PN had instituted another court case to try to annul the result in two electoral districts. He said that the government would abide by the decision of the First Hall.

Dr Bonnici said he knew Mr Church as a person of integrity.

He also referred to the alleged transfers of personnel in the electoral office, saying that the truth was that following an examination process started under a Nationalist administration, a number of people had been promoted and had been deployed to other duties carrying higher responsibilities.

Labour MP Michael Falzon regretted the tone of Dr Fenech Adami’s speech and said that, if anything, his comments showed disrespect even to the PN-nominated members of the Electoral Commission.

Dr Falzon admitted that mistakes could be committed but in the presence of the legal adviser, both parties knew that when the count had been closed no more action could be taken.

On the subject of electronic ID cards, he said it was worth noting that the former government had shamefully let identity cards expire for many years, adding that it was not right for anyone who was not eligible to continue to appear on the Electoral Register.

Dr Falzon also insisted that proportional representation was being practised in the House, a far cry from in the past when the PN had a five-seat majority that was not proportional.

Earlier, Chris Fearne (PL) said that during the general election, patients at five hospitals were given the opportunity to cast votes there instead of voting in their localities.

This was a step forward because it made more sense logistically.

The Bill was now extending this privilege to institutions such as Boffa Hospital, homes for the elderly having more than 50 residents and in the future, the Oncology Hospital.

Dr Fearne proposed that there be a small number of ballot papers in Braille so that blind people would be able to vote privately without the need to rely on Assistant Electoral Commissioners.

The Bill was approved with the Opposition voting against.