Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday warned that he would move impeachment motions in Parliament against the two judges embroiled in scandals if they do not resign of their own accord.
Mr Justice Ray Pace was yesterday charged with accepting a bribe and Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco has been named in an Olympics ticketing investigation (see separate stories).
“The Constitution gives me the right to advise the President to recall Parliament to discuss such matters even after it is dissolved,” the Prime Minister said. “I will not hesitate to make this move if the judges involved do not resign within a short time frame.”
Parliament is in recess and is due to be dissolved on January 7 ahead of a March 9 general election.
Dr Gonzi’s message to the judiciary was that all members who were not prepared to lead an exemplary life, both public and private, had better step down.
Referring to Mr Justice Pace, Dr Gonzi said the country was shocked at the revelations involving him
On Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco, he reiterated his call for him to “do the honourable thing” and resign.
While not wanting to enter into the merits of Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco’s case, given he had the right to defend himself, the Prime Minister said it was not acceptable that he acted as if nothing had happened.
In comments he gave to The Times last Sunday, Dr Farrugia Sacco said the PM “was trying to be funny” in calling for his resignation.
Such comments, Dr Gonzi said, confirmed that his position was untenable. “Comments like those are not acceptable coming from any member of the judiciary.”
Parliament would show that it expected nothing less than the best example from members of the judiciary, he added. “MPs would have the chance to stand up and be counted. If there are members of the judiciary who are not ready to be exemplary in both their public and private lives, than it is the time for them to make way,” Dr Gonzi insisted.
In a tweet later reacting to PBS news of Dr Gonzi’s intention to impeach Mr Justice Pace in the absence of a resignation, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said the Opposition would back the impeachment.