‘Foot soldier’ Franco Debono to receive over €24,000 for Law Commissioner post

Former Nationalist MP and criminal lawyer Franco Debono was appointed as Commissioner of Law to "revive a dormant structure," Parliamentary Secretary Owen Bonnici said.

Describing Debono as a "footsoldier," Bonnici said that he was the ideal candidate to "give life to what was a dormant office," while underlining Debono's experience as chairman of the parliamentary committee for the re-codification and consolidation of laws during the last legislature.

Replying to questions this morning on the appointment, Bonnici said that Debono was chosen because "he is the best candidate for the post" and confirmed that no other persons were in the running for the job.
Debono will be receiving a wage for the job, which Bonnici said, was modelled on other similar institutional roles, such as the Commissioner for Children.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Justice said Debono's wage will amount to 60% of similar salaries since he will not be employed on a fulltime basis, meaning that Debono will earn €18,401 per year.

He will also benefit from allowances which total around €6,000.

The former PN dissident will be assisted in his job by the Justice Unit, which Bonnici said needed to be re-organised.
"The commissioner's job cannot be done by just one person and Franco Debono will be assisted by the Justice Unit," Bonnici said.

While pointing out that only Parliament can enact new legislation, Bonnici added that Debono will not only be responsible for removing conflicting laws and other legislation which the Constitutional Court deemed as unconstitutional and in breach of fundamental rights, "but Franco Debono will also head the Constitutional reform."

Bonnici also noted that Debono would be asked to provide his and advise expertise on the political party financing law and other laws.

Debono's term will last one year and will be reviewed year by year, Bonnici said.

Debono will keep his private practice, however the Parliamentary Secretary stressed that there would be no conflict of interest because decisions can only be taken by Parliament and the Government.

Debono's appointment as Commissioner of Law was made public on Saturday, in a statement issued by government.

The office has been established according to the 1980 Act on the Revision of Statutory Laws. According to the government, Debono's role will be vast but will ensure better and more correct legislation.

The law also provides the Commissioner to carry out other specific duties granted to him by the government. To this aim, Debono was given the role to be responsible of coordinating the Constitutional Convention.

Debono's first job will be to prepare the terms of reference for the Constitutional Convention.

In recent months, Debono had maintained that he would be ready to take up similar jobs, whoever was in government. In an interview with MaltaToday in December, Debono had said that he would not refuse attractive propositions such as heading a Constitutional reform process if this arises.