Jason Micallef says chairmen 'should not defend the government'

Labour’s former secretary general and current Valletta 2018 chairman Jason Micallef complained that executive chairmen had crossed the line in their outright defence of the government during televised programmes. Without referring to anyone in particular, Micallef insisted that such appointees should not be taking political sides.

Airing his thoughts on Facebook, Micallef argued that such an attitude was in breach of ethics. He said such a matter should be addressed if Malta truly wanted to pursue European standards.

“Chairmen of government entities should not take part in political TV programmes and defend the government. I disagreed with this under Nationalist administrations and I remain of the same opinion nowadays. It does not make sense and it does not help the government,” Micallef wrote.

“Active participation in such programmes is the role of the politician, and not of a political appointee."

With the European Parliament elections round the corner, some of his followers even criticised him for his comments arguing that such a statement would harm the Labour Party.

One commentator went as far as suggesting that such comments - "or misunderstandings" - should be discussed "privately" between the party members and not publicly on Facebook

Micallef served as secretary general under the leadership of former Labour leader Alfred Sant. Upon being elected leader, Joseph Muscat changed Micallef's remit, instead appointing him at the helm of the Labour media.

He unsuccessfully contested the 2013 general elections on the 11th district, garnering only 576 first-count votes. Soon after the elections, he was appointed chairman of the Valletta 2018 Foundation.