Labour motions receive mixed reactions

Lino Spiteri

Asked whether the Opposition is justified in tabling the two censure motions, former Labour minister Lino Spiteri said the motions were contradictory.

"Cachia Caruana is a bureaucrat and it is not within Parliament's responsibility to move a motion of no confidence. According to the principle of political accountability it is a magistrate's responsibility to judge whether any wrongdoing did in fact take place," Spiteri said.

He added that the contradiction also lies in the fact that in the case of Mifsud Bonnici he is being held accountable for alleged shortcomings in departments within his portfolio "while nothing is said about the responsibility of the heads of departments' shortcomings."

Michael Falzon

Former PN minister Michael Falzon said the Cachia Caruana motion is "certainly not justified."

Falzon said Labour is misinterpreting the facts on the re-activation of Malta's membership in the Partnership for Peace programme . He added that the political responsibility is carried by the Prime Minister and foreign affairs minister and in the absence of a motion calling for their resignation, the Opposition should have initiated an inquiry to establish what happened and not ask for the resignation of Cachia Caruana.

On the Mifsud Bonnici motion, Falzon said the scrutiny of the ministry took place in the budget debate while adding, "I do not think that there were any special circumstances that justify a vote of no confidence in the minister over and above what happened in the budget debate", adding that "the Opposition was ill-advised in tabling the motion".

Asked whether Cachia Caruana and Mifsud Bonnici should resign if the respective motions are approved, Falzon said: "No doubt about that, they should resign if  the motions go through."

Carmen Sammut

University lecturer and Labour think-tank 'Fondazzjoni Ideat' chairperson Carmen Sammut said the context in which the motions were moved should be considered.

"Government faced a crisis, there was clear dissent on its backbench and the two individuals concerned did not merely become the target of Labour criticism but they also faced allegations from the government's side," Sammut said.

She added that the two votes may not shake the tree because "we do not have a history of political resignations irrespective of what anyone may think or what anyone may wish".

Tony Zarb

General Workers Union secretary-general Tony Zarb did not commit himself on whether the Opposition was justified in tabling the motions however he said that "it all depends on the outcome of the debates".

The GWU chief said the motions were tabled for a reason and when asked whether the two motions should be followed by resignations if they are approved, Zarb said: "I cannot comment at this stage. Let's first see how the vote goes."

A number of persons including academics Joe Friggieri and Ranier Fsadni, former PN secretary-general Joe Saliba, economists Alfred Mifsud and Karmenu Farrugia, Malta Employers Association chief Joe Farrugia and the Maltese Confederation of Women's Organisations chairperson Renee Laiviera refused to comment.

Additional reporting Miriam Dalli