Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1531608
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 JANUARY 2025 5 INTERVIEW The following are excerpts from the interview. The full interview can be found on maltatoday.com.mt as well as our Facebook and Spotify pages. PHOTOS: JAMES BIANCHI / MALTA TODAY A Nationalist government in 2006 had similarly proposed reforming magisterial inquir- ies, only to backtrack after being criticised for it. Is your criticism convenient because you're in Opposition and you have nothing to lose? It was nothing like what the government is proposing now. A number of safeguards were introduced; for example, if an inquiry is being carried out on an individual, that individual is notified and can present their argument. […] There are some who argue, such as former chief justice Vincent De Gaetano, that this is not right, and we are among the few countries with this system in place. The government is up in arms over this because several government ministers have been investigated over allegations. If the government needs to change anything, it must strengthen citizens' access to inquiries, not weaken it. Among those who have issued statements in favour of a re- form in the magisterial inquiry system is the Malta Develop- ment Association. It argued that companies involved in government projects are caught up in political controversy and have no way to rebut allega- tions. Do you think they are making a valid argument? Could it be preventing compa- nies from investing or partici- pating in government projects? I don't think they are right in seeing it that way. If the job is carried out diligently and legally, there is no fear of being caught up in a criminal investigation. Also, in our law, we have the necessary safeguards, and if you are subject to an inquiry, you can present your side of the argument. […] I don't think the MDA should be worried that the company of one of its members will be investigated. I think we should help people in business strengthen their company's governance and provide them with tools to ensure offences like corruption and trading in influence are prevented. […] I must insist that the vast majority of Maltese and Gozitan businesses are very serious and professional and have gone to great lengths to prevent abuse. Robert Abela is trying to asso- ciate the Nationalist Party with Jason Azzopardi and Repubbli- ka. Do you think he is doing this strategically because he might feel that this impacts your pop- ularity with the electorate? The Nationalist Party remains the Nationalist Party. While it seeks to cooperate with others whose principles and ideas align, it remains the second-largest party in the country and the constitutionally recognised Opposition. No NGO can do what we do. […] We want more people to step up and contribute. I enjoy seeing people like Jason Azzopardi taking certain initiatives, and we need more like him. I don't think people feel the Nationalist Party is doing anything wrong because it is saying what needs to be said. You criticise the government for bad practices and lack of accountability in governance, but recently news emerged that the PN has failed to meet another deadline in submit- ting its accounts. How do you expect people to agree and support what you do, when you don't have your house in order? At the same time, we have the Prime Minister who has failed to submit his asset declaration for the past two years… 100% but we are speaking about what the PN is doing here… I don't think it's good for a political party to not submit its accounts; it is wrong for the PN to have this shortcoming. But I am also aware of certain circumstances that have arisen, and I understand them. Political parties are operated by volunteers, and we need to start having a conversation about how they need to be supported in their operations, as is the case in other countries. But this is an issue which has spanned years not months… I am not justifying it, but we need to see how the state can help parties organise themselves better. We only have obligations for the parties, but we do not have ways to support them in their organisation.