Updated 3.10pm - Adds Samuel Azzopardi comments
Samuel Azzopardi is to be nominated by the Nationalist Party to be reinstated as mayor of Victoria, Gozo, after a court declared this morning that a drink-driving case, for which he had shown regret, should not deter him from his political, cultural and social activities.
Dr Azzopardi was fined €2,000 for drink-driving and for refusing to take a breathalyser test, but the court said that since he had admitted his mistake and shown regret, it should not undermine his political career.
Dr Azzopardi was involved in a traffic accident in Għajnsielem on April 17. He subsequently twice refused to take a breathalyser test.
He also resigned his mayorship and suspended himself from the Nationalist Party.
The other driver, Emanuel Grech, was also accused and convicted of drink driving and similarly fined. Both he and Dr Azzopardi renounced action against each other, but were prosecuted by the police.
Dr Azzopardi, like Mr Grech, was found not guilty of driving in a careless and dangerous way, causing involuntary damage to a vehicle and slightly injuring a man, although he was found guilty of drink-driving and refusing to take the test without valid reason.
The law provides that when a person refuses to take the test, he/she would be guilty of a crime unless proven otherwise and he would be considered as having been over the limit. The minimum fine if €1,200 or imprisonment for up to three months, or both.
In his considerations, Magistrate Joe Mifsud said he should highlight teachings by Pope Francis on mercy and justice, when he said that mercy and justice may appear to be contradictory, but in actual fact they are not.
Justice can triumph when the guilty party recognises his wrong actions and stops them and in this way the bad would be eliminated and the unjust would become just and the guilty would have been forgiven and restored to the road of righteousness.
The accused, Dr Mifsud said, had done that. He had recognised his mistake and shown his regret.
The court noted that alcohol is a substance which is socially accepted and on many occasions it is seen as a way of celebration and socialising. Nonetheless, it could cause dangers, as had happened in this case when the accused was returning home from a wedding.
Everybody needed to keep in mind the consequences of alcohol consumption on behaviour.
However, Magistrate Mifsud said, this incident should not hinder the political, cultural and social activities carried out by Dr Azzopardi. Rather, he should himself warn of the dangers which alcohol could cause, even when one was not addicted to drink but would have consumed some during a social event.
Dr Azzopardi was therefore fined €2,000 and disqualified from driving for six months. Mr Grech was similarly banned.
PN STATEMENT
In a reaction, the Nationalist party said it had noted the magistrate's comments and it was therefore lifting Dr Azzopardi's suspension. He would also be nominated to become mayor once more.
"Dr Azzopardi's case is an example of how people in public office should act and how a political party should lead by example," the PN said.
In a separate statement, Dr Azzopardi thanked the PN, all those who had supported him and Josef Schembri, who was mayor for the past two months.
He said he would devote all his energy to working for the people of Victoria.
Azzopardi welcomes PN decision
In a statement, Dr Azzopardi said he respected the court's decision but also welcomed the PN decision to lift his suspension.
He thanked his supporters and Victoria local council, with mayor Joseph Schembri singled out for praise.
Dr Azzopardi promised to work with all his might to help Victoria residents.