Prime Minister commissions review of Code of Ethics

During his first Cabinet meeting yesterday evening, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat commissioned a review of the Code of Ethics to reflect the "realities of today".

"The Code of Ethics was written 18 years ago and it's time to update it to reflect today's realities," he said, during an informal press conference with the media in Brussels.

Muscat was replying to questions on whether ministers would be allowed to keep receiving retainers from their private business or legal firms. He insisted that the Cabinet would however follow the ministerial code of ethics.

The Prime Minister also rubbished suggestions that the Labour government was going "to politicise" the public service.

Nationalist MP Mario de Marco today dubbed the designate-head of the civil service, Mario Cutajar "a hardcore party man" whose invitation to permanent secretaries and other government appointees to hand in their resignations, had gone "against all standard procedures and ignoring Constitutional provisions."

De Marco, a former tourism and culture minister now believed to be vying for the party leadership, said the appointment of former General Workers Union deputy secretary-general Mario Cutajar "can only be interpreted as a means to politicise the public service, a throwback to an undesirable past."

But Muscat defended this decision as "a normal procedure that followed after every change in government".

"This doesn't mean that every resignation letter will be accepted, but the Prime Minister can ask for it. Just like we confirmed that Malta's ambassador to the EU will retain her post because we believe she is the best person to hold this position, so will be the case with other positions," he said.

The Prime Minister in fact today held a private meeting with Malta's permanent representative Marlene Bonnici in which she was asked whether she wished to continue with her role. Bonnici accepted Muscat's request and the same offer was then extended to all workers at Malta's permanent representation.

De Marco today also criticised the fusing of justice and home affairs as part of the same ministry, "something Labour had criticised and voted against in Parliament just a few months ago" - referring to the motion of no confidence in Carm Mifsud Bonnici which garnered the support of Nationalist MP Franco Debono.

"It is now amply clear that their position then was motivated solely by political opportunism, and nothing else. Is this what was meant by a change in direction, one might ask?"

However, Muscat justified this decision by insisting that the Labour Party had pledged the appointment of two persons who would be politically responsible of the two sectors.

"We were always clear in what we were proposing: that two persons would be individually responsible of the two sectors. And this is the case," he said.

Muscat also said that his decision to place the disciplinary forces under one ministry was taken with the believe that there should be synergy between all forces - civil protection, armed forces and the police force.

Fielding light questions about his first participation at the EU summit as Malta's newly elected Prime Minister, Muscat said that he was "building bridges and new friendships" with member states leaders.

He also said that he spoke with Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean Claude Juncker and expressed his wish for the relationship that had started with former PM Lawrence Gonzi to continue with him [Muscat] as well.