Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici yesterday described the censure motion he is facing in Parliament as an “opportunity” to explain how much work he has been doing.
As a lawyer, I am disciplined to respond when I should respond. I am used to being patient
“Don’t think for a second that I spent four years doing nothing. I’ve spent four years working like a dog to lead this ministry,” the reserved minister told journalists in an uncharacteristically feisty outburst.
He was addressing a press conference marking the fourth year of the legislature at the disused Ħal Ferħ holiday complex, where, in the background, the Civil Protection Department was coordinating an earthquake response drill.
But it was the earthquake threatening to shake up Dr Mifsud Bonnici’s political career that received most attention.
Parliament will next week discuss an Opposition motion criticising Dr Mifsud Bonnici for his handling of the Justice and Home Affairs Ministry, split earlier this year at the insistence of Nationalist MP Franco Debono.
A vote is scheduled for May 30 and Dr Debono – who had also filed a Private Member’s motion calling for reform in all the areas under Dr Mifsud Bonnici’s responsibility – is expected to support Labour’s motion.
Asked about the fierce criticism he had been receiving and the fact that he had remained silent throughout the past few weeks, Dr Mifsud Bonnici said he had a reply for “each” point.
“But I am used to replying at the opportune moment. As a lawyer, I am disciplined to respond when I should respond. I am used to being patient,” he said, later indicating that he would be speaking during the parliamentary debate.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici pointed out that the Opposition’s motion did not actually call for his resignation.
When journalists said Labour leader Joseph Muscat had already promised to amend the motion accordingly, Dr Mifsud Bonnici smiled sceptically: “In politics, many things are said which then do not happen.”
Although he answered all the questions put to him by journalists, Dr Mifsud Bonnici only lost his cool slightly when he was asked how he wanted to be remembered for his work as a minister.
Visibly frustrated, Dr Mifsud Bonnici threw his hands in the air and said it was up to the public to decide how to remember him. All he cared about was that he gave a good service to the country.
“Of course, everything can be done better. I did my work and I did it to the best of my abilities. I am not the epitome of perfection, so if someone feels I did not meet his standard of perfection, I have no problem discussing it.” He admitted that a lot of the work he had done was “low profile” but that did not mean he did nothing.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici said he was open to scrutiny and would be ultimately judged by the electorate, which had already shown confidence in him in three consecutive elections.
Asked what he had done in the past four months as minister responsible for parliamentary affairs, he said he had furthered the government’s agenda in Parliament, moving Bills forward accordingly.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici began the press conference by detailing the work in his ministry, focusing on investment in police resources, upgrading immigration and prison facilities, strengthening child protection laws, enforcing fireworks regulations and introducing reparative justice.