Malta Independent

‘Justice reform will bring more acco PN is a destructiv­e Opposition’ – P

- Gabriel Schembri

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that the Justice Reform as discussed in Parliament last week, will bring about more accountabi­lity within the Judiciary. He explained that members of the Judiciary will face possible suspension as a disciplina­ry measure.

Speaking at an interview on the radio station of the Labour Party, Dr Muscat said that the Justice Reform will make the system simpler and less bureaucrat­ic. He said people awaiting court hearing will now receive a simple text message or email to be notified about their case. Dr Muscat said this simple measure will avoid unnecessar­y wasted hours for people who have to take leave from work, only for their hearing to be cancelled.

“This is a government that is not part of some elite establishm­ent. I am leading a reformist government that is not afraid of change.”

Dr Muscat said that under the leadership of Simon Busuttil, the Nationalis­t Party found its own place in the Opposition. “This is a destructiv­e Opposition. PN is more effective in Opposition than in government. I am disappoint­ed with the Opposition’s attitude, and I must say that a lot of this negative attitude comes from the PN leader himself, as many members of the Opposition, I believe, are ready to collaborat­e with the government.”

Asked about Nationalis­t MP Chris Said and the damning report on political interferen­ce, Dr Muscat said that the lack of action by the PN leader only undermines good governance practices. “Chris Said politicall­y interfered in the allocation of funds, which amount to millions, allocated to local councils. The Auditor General does not believe the excuses presented by Dr Said, but Simon Busuttil does.”

The Prime Minister said that on the other hand, he had to take difficult decision on persons that he respects and are close to him.

On the latest employment statistics, the PL leader said that

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Malta