Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1442703
9 EDITORIAL BusinessToday is published every Thursday. The newspaper is a MediaToday publication and is distributed to all leading stationers, business and financial institutions and banks. MANAGING EDITOR: SAVIOUR BALZAN EDITOR: PAUL COCKS BusinessToday, MediaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN9016, Malta Newsroom email: bt@mediatoday.com.mt Advertising: afarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Telephone: 00356 21 382741 T he eve of an election is not the right time for political discussions on important laws that require bipartisan commit- ment. But this should not be a stumbling block for a tough but needed discussion on laws that tackle head-on the red flags highlighted by the Daphne Caruana Galizia public in- quiry. Government has said that over the past months it has held discussions with a num- ber of stakeholders that led to the announce- ment of a committee of media experts as re- quested by the inquiry. Government has also handed over a num- ber of media reform laws to the committee so that it can review them and give its feed- back before they are tabled in parliament. The Bills are intended to offer journalists and the media more protection. At the same time, the Opposition has come out with an omnibus motion proposing sev- eral laws and amendments to fight corrup- tion, mafia-like organisations, foster good governance and strengthen the protection of journalists. The flurry of activity of recent days comes months after the public inquiry concluded its work. Its findings were damning on gov- ernment and its recommendations spanned various sectors. It does not appear, as yet, that apart from the work to set up the media experts com- mittee and prepare the relevant laws target- ing the journalism sector, that government has embraced other recommendations made by the inquiry. This is a failing. But crying over spilt milk will get us no- where. There are now a raft of proposals from government and the Opposition on the table. The Bills presented by the Prime Minister to the committee of media experts are more extensive than those put forward by the Op- position but on the key issues of constitu- tional safeguards and anti-SLAPP legislation both sides are not far away from each other. The committee of media experts can bring both views together and put forward a con- solidated proposal that offers wide-ranging protection to journalists and the media. As for the anti-corruption and good gov- ernance proposals put forward by the Op- position, these are by no means perfect or exhaustive but provide a very good basis for discussion. The legal changes propose several new concepts that will require serious debate such as the special anti-corruption inquir- ing magistrate with prosecutorial powers and a specific anti-mafia provision. The Opposition is also proposing new crimes such as abuse of public office and regulating government's power of incum- bency when an election is called. Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis has publicly said that government would be will- ing to engage with the Opposition although he included the proviso 'if the proposals make sense'. This leader agrees with the Chamber of Commerce that no more time should be lost. Politicians on both sides must show less pride and more maturity at this juncture in this country's trajectory. Government must display genuine will- ingness to engage with the Opposition in a meaningful way on its proposals. The Oppo- sition must also be willing to compromise so that the legislative initiatives not only bring about change but also take into account Malta's peculiarities as a small country. This leader is certain that with good will significant reforms can be introduced to right many of the wrongs identified by the public inquiry. With an election around the corner, time is limited and in some of the proposed re- forms meaningful consultations with differ- ent stakeholders is likely to conflict with the short period available. In these cases, both major parties must make a political commitment to continue discussions after the election. With good will a lot of progress can be achieved in 2022. Less pride, more maturity and good will 13.1.2022