Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1530039
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 1 DECEMBER 2024 ANALYSIS Jobgate: Wrapped for Christmas It took Robert Abela three weeks to dismiss former Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo over a blatant and unequivocal case of nepotism, exposed by a Standards Commissioner handpicked by the Prime Minister himself. It was a revelation that stunned the nation. JAMES DEBONO asks whether Abela has succeeded in closing the scandal before Christmas by removing Bartolo from both Cabinet and the parliamentary group, or if he has left too many loose ends, opening the door to public mockery during the festive season. CHRISTMAS is a time of mer- riment when friends, colleagues, and relatives come together over drinks in casual gatherings. But it's also a time when public per- ceptions are solidified, reinforced, and entrenched, as people inevita- bly discuss and joke about current affairs. This makes it imperative for po- litical leaders to tie up any loose ends and wrap up the year on a positive note. Riding high after a generous budget, Abela's plan was to restore the feel-good factor before the fes- tive season began, just in time for people to toast the New Year with optimism triggered by the prom- ise of more money in their pockets from upcoming tax cuts. However, it is now Clayton Bar- tolo and his wife, Amanda Muscat, who are likely to dominate Christ- mas gatherings and parties, pos- sibly becoming the butt of jokes. Ironically, a report by Abela's own choice of Standards Commission- er, Joe Azzopardi, presented just days after Abela's bullish budget speech, stole the thunder from Labour's budget. For three weeks, Abela appeared oblivious to the fallout, perhaps assuming the scandal would even- tually fade. Instead, it captured the public's attention, likely because it contained all the elements that cause politicians to falter under the harsh glare of public opinion: a young, ambitious minister who courted the social media spot- light, whose girlfriend (now wife) was awarded a highly paid con- sultancy job that, according to the commissioner, she was neither qualified for nor had performed any related duties. To make mat- ters worse, the consultancy, which included an "expertise allowance," was granted by the Gozo Ministry, headed by another rising minister, Clint Camilleri. This raises the question: Why did it take Abela so long to act, given that someone as politically astute as him should have antici- pated the fallout? Has he lost his grip, or was he simply cornered? Deciphering Abela's delay Confronted with a report from the Standards Commissioner – clearly stating that two Cabinet ministers had committed an eth- ical breach, the PM could have pre-empted the scandal by imme- diately dismissing the two minis- ters, if only for the sake of institu- tional integrity. He could have thanked both ministers for their service and even left the door open for future rehabilitation if they showed con- trition. At that juncture, Abela wouldn't even have been expected to justify his decision, other than to say that there is no place in his Cabinet for anyone found to have breached ethical guidelines by an impartial authority he fully trust- ed. After all, it was the same stand- ard he applied to Justyne Carua- na and Rosianne Cutajar, both of whom were ousted following sim- ilar reports, with the latter later rehabilitated. Instead, the public was met with a half-hearted apology from Bar- tolo, no contrition from Camilleri – who claimed ignorance of Mus- cat's hiring – and the PM's insist- ence that the case did not merit resignation. To further muddy the waters, Abela suggested that he had al- ready acted on the case long be- fore the publication of the com- missioner's report by terminating Muscat's contract in 2021, raising even more questions about why he kept Bartolo and Camilleri in his Cabinet while knowing the mess they had created. As a result, pressure mounted, Labour's own goal galvanised the Opposition, and Labour pundits found themselves defending the indefensible. Abela's quandary While decisive action could have saved Abela from being caught in a downward spiral, the case was further complicated by Camill- eri's involvement. The Standards Commissioner also reprimanded Camilleri, a Gozo constituency heavyweight with a sensitive plan- ning portfolio. Camilleri claimed he wasn't aware of the details of Muscat's employment, but the commis- sioner found this hard to believe, making it impossible to exonerate him. With both ministers reprimand- ed, their fates became intertwined. It was impossible for Abela to sack Bartolo without also firing Camill- eri if he used the same yardstick – the commissioner's report. Removing Camilleri at a time of uncertainty in the planning sec- tor risked upsetting the applecart,