Malta - January 2023

Parliament passed a bill introducing an anti-deadlock mechanism for the appointment of the Standards Commissioner. The bill passed with 41 votes in favour and 35 against in its final reading. The Standards Commissioner is responsible for investigating ethical complaints against MPs. The bill amends a requirement in the Standards in Public Life Act for the appointment to be agreed in Parliament by a two-thirds majority vote. The amendment allows for appointment by a simple majority if two initial votes fail to reach a two-thirds majority. Parliament has not yet succeeded in appointing a replacement for George Hyzler, who left the seat vacant. The government’s proposed replacement, former Chief Justice Joseph Azzopardi, was blocked by the opposition. The leader of the Nationalist Party, Bernard Grech, has accused Prime Minister Robert Abela of amending the law to push through his candidate. The use of the anti-deadlock mechanism for the appointment of other high-level positions, including the Presidency and the Chief Justice, had been recommended by the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe’s rule of law body.

Sources: Times of Malta, Malta Independent (1), Malta Independent (2), Council of Europe Venice Commission