Local politicians are often all too willing to help a constituent find a job, leapfrog a waiting list or cut red tape. 

But though this clientelism might be openly embraced by politicians from the Labour and Nationalist parties, it is "the bane of democracy" and at the heart of Malta's problems, the Partit Demokratiku has said. 

"For every person that is allowed to skip the queue in hospital, for every person who gets a job just because of who they know, for every person who gets a hand up in life and an advantage over those around them for bowing to authority, there is somebody else who suffers as a direct consequence," PD noted in a statement issued on Tuesday morning. 

There is always somebody else who suffers as a direct consequence

The PD noted that it was hypocritical for politicians to pontificate about the rule of law, only to then favour those who voted for them and allow them to call in favours. 

In a society in which a few phone calls could make all the difference, "what point is there to work or study hard or pay one's taxes," the party mused.  

The PD statement comes as MPs in parliament's public accounts committee argue over employees brought into Wasteserv, allegedly on politicians' orders.

The debate, which began after Malta Today published leaked emails from PN politicians recommending people to the waste management agency, continued this week with agency CEO Tonio Montebello unable to explain why one-third of workers hired last year hailed from Environment Minister Jose Herrera's electoral district. 

In its statement, the PD urged all politicians to come together and wipe the slate clean. 

"Independent institutions will mean that everyone has a more equal and fair chance in life," the party said. "This is true liberty, rather than having to kneel to political authority to get ahead, when it is politicians who should be serving the people."