Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1532358
3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 12 FEBRUARY 2025 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Abela also stated that this re- form of the magisterial inquiries process was part of the Labour Party's 2022 manifesto. Howev- er, while the manifesto does call for a reform concerning magis- terial inquiries, it is limited to the creation of a section within the judiciary that specialises in inquiries. "This section will have the technical experts, legal persons, and administrative officials to ensure that inquiries can be carried out in the most profes- sional way possible and in the shortest amount of time," the manifesto states. Abela's speech in parliament Abela was the first to speak about the magisterial inquiries reform, stating that the reform is intended to prevent abuse of justice and encourage account- ability. However, during the first part of his speech, he ac- cused the Opposition of being populist and partisan. "The Opposition has no cre- dentials to talk about the rule of law. The people know this and judged them on their rule of law while in government," he said. Abela then listed three mat- ters that he believes should be probed in a magisterial inquiry: the Nationalist Party's missing financial statements, how Op- position leader Bernard Grech settled his tax dues, and wheth- er former PN leader Adrian De- lia received money to prevent MEP David Casa from getting re-elected. On the Delia allegation, a magisterial inquiry was opened in 2020 on claims that Yorgen Fenech, who is being charged with masterminding Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder, paid Delia to block Casa's election bid, with the money allegedly never reaching the PN's coffers. "I'm not implying Delia did anything," Abela said. "But I ask, why hasn't the magistrate come out with the proces-ver- bal on this?" Following an allegation from Labour supporter Karl Stagno Navarra, Abela also suggest- ed opening an inquiry into the misappropriation of NI pay- ments by the Nationalist Party. Abela warned the Opposition that he will not hold back if they try to break people's morale or insist on sending people to pris- on. "What you try to do to us, I'll do to you," he stated. Referencing the past, Abela cited a 2008 ruling by the Eu- ropean Court of Human Rights that described the Maltese courts as an "all-in-the-family jamboree." The ruling involved a conflict of interest where Chief Justice Giuseppe Mifsud Bonnici presided over a case in which his brother, Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, had previously repre- sented one party, later replaced by his nephew, Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici. When Abela began criticis- ing the cabinet of the time for handpicking members of the judiciary, Nationalist MP Be- ppe Fenech Adami interject- ed, pointing out that the same cabinet had appointed Abela's father as president. Following this, parliament was suspended for ten minutes. When parliament resumed, Abela continued explaining the reform, insisting that it will "el- evate" magisterial inquiries to a more serious level. He also ex- pressed remorse that the legal system failed permanent secre- taries Alfred Camilleri, Joseph Rapa, and Ronald Mizzi, all of whom are being charged for their involvement in the Vitals hospitals deal. Abela also mentioned allega- tions made by former PN MP Jason Azzopardi, who impli- cated former minister Carmelo Abela in the 2010 HSBC heist. Nationalist MP Karol Aquilina challenged the prime minister to reinstate Carmelo Abela as a minister, to which Robert Abela responded by challenging Aqui- lina to publicly apologise to the former minister. Towards the end of his speech, Abela spoke against involving foreign experts in magisterial inquiries. "We believe in accountability, and that means not having for- eign experts creating a racket to receive thousands of euros for work that could have been done by Maltese experts. They need to be proper experts, not fake experts," he said. Opposition leader responds Opposition leader Bernard Grech responded to Abela's speech, stating that the prime minister's remarks in parlia- ment confirmed that there is no moral justification for passing this law. Grech accused Abela of spend- ing 55 minutes attacking those who refuse to "bow their heads" to him. "If there's someone who won't bow their head to the prime minister but does what the law says, according to the consti- tutional oath they take, it is the judiciary of our country. We always have faith in them - you don't," Grech said. He pointed out that while Ab- ela defended three permanent secretaries accused in the Vitals hospitals scandal, he failed to mention Joseph Muscat, who is also being charged in the case. Abela interjected, stating that he had said "and others" in his speech, but Grech dismissed this explanation. "We have a prime minister that wants to decide who's in- nocent and who isn't. We be- lieve in the magistrates, judges, and courts. Because we have trust and faith in them, they in- vestigate and confirm the proof, and they have the tools, power, and resources to continue find- ing the truth because the Mal- tese people have a right to the truth," Grech added. On Bill 125, Grech argued that the legislation would deny Maltese citizens the rights they currently have. "You do the op- posite of what you say. You say you're strengthening citizens' rights, but with what you're try- ing to get through parliament, you'll deny people their rights," he said. Justice minister attacks former chief justice's criticism During parliamentary question time, Justice Minister Jonathan Attard dismissed former Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri's criti- cism of the government's mag- isterial inquiries reform as "the comments of a political fanatic." Last week, Camilleri com- mented on the Times of Mal- ta's website, stating that Bill 125 would shield politicians and their associates from in- vestigation. He accused the government of "capturing" law enforcement institutions and depriving citizens of judicial in- vestigations. Attard read out a previous comment by Camilleri that called Labour Party members arrogant and the government spineless. He criticised Camill- eri's behavior, particularly giv- en his past role as head of the committee that issues legal war- rants. "Not even the most fervent po- litical supporters talk this way," Attard said. Abela also criticised Camilleri, stating that he had abandoned decorum and resorted to parti- san attacks. 'Prime minister wants to decide who is innocent and who is not' - Grech Justice Minister Jonathan Attard dismissed former Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri's (inset) criticism of the government's magisterial inquiries reform as "the comments of a political fanatic"