Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil is vowing to end the current system of appointments of members of the judiciary and promised that a future PN government would, “from day one”, implement the full recommendations of the Bonello commission.
Soon after Labour was elected to power it appointed an independent Commission headed by former European Court of Human Rights Judge Giovanni Bonello to suggest changes to the justice system.
Among its most urgent recommendations the Commission proposed that members of the judiciary should no longer be directly appointed by the government of the day but through a new independent system (see box).
Despite the government’s pledge to implement the Commission’s recommendations, this has not yet happened. Indeed, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici proceeded to nominate 13 members of the judiciary under the old system.
“Joseph Muscat calls for recommendations but does not have the courage to implement them,” Dr Busuttil told a press conference, following the controversy over the latest nominations.
“I would like to declare that under my leadership, a future PN government will submit all its nominations according to the recommendations of the Bonello Commission,” Dr Busuttil declared.
“If Dr Muscat cannot implement the recommendations because he seems to be comfortable with the old system, then I will do it from the first day we’re back in government,” the PN leader said.
Accusing the Prime Minister and the Justice Minister of nepotism even in the nomination of the judiciary members, he invited Dr Muscat to withdraw the nomination of Caroline Frendo Farrugia – the Speaker’s daughter – as she did not yet have the seven years’ practice prerequisite to become a magistrate.
The 33-year old lawyer will only reach eligibility for the post by mid-March.
Calling the nomination of Dr Frendo Farrugia “unconstitutional” Dr Busuttil said the Prime Minister was in “a race to the bottom” when it came to standards and good governance.
Bonello Commission recommendations
• There should be a public call for applications for persons eligible to become members of the judiciary.
• An independent Judicial Services Appointment Authority under the auspices of the Commission for the Administration of Justice will evaluate the applications and make its recommendations to the government.
• The Justice Minister will make nominations according to the recommendations of the authority.