Home Affairs minister defends presence during Security Service recruitment interview

Home Affairs minister Manuel Mallia has defended his presence at an interview for finalist candidates for Security Service recruits, claiming the same procedure as that employed by the former Nationalist administration had been followed.

"Since the responsible minister is ultimately the person who approves this recruitment, the head of the Security Service felt it should be the minister who is also present for the final scrutiny of the new recruits," Mallia said in a statement in reaction to a condemnation from the Nationalist Party.

The Nationalist Party described as "shocking" a claim by Manuel Mallia, who declared in parliament that he had sat in for an interview of prospective members for the country's Security Service.

"This news is shocking and constitutes an unprecedented irregularity," the PN said in a statement, taking exception at Mallia's claims that his presence in the interview represented a "new way of doing politics".

The Security Service chief is assistant commissioner Michael Cassar.

"The PN administration should confirm or deny the way the names of Security Service members were imposed through the direct involvement of Nationalist ministers. The procedure laid down in the Security Service Act is being followed, whereby it is the chief of the service who recruits these members, and not by being handpicked by the minister," Mallia said.

"Since this process requires ministerial approval of the members that the Security Service chief wants recruited, I had to accept to be present when the head of the Security Service carries out these final interviews."

Mallia said the PN's "attack" showed the party was still weighed down by "destructive methods of criticism".

The PN said described the episode as "a threat to individuals' liberties. It is unheard of, in any democratic country, Malta included, having a minister being directly involved in the Security Service."

The PN said the Security Service enjoys great powers at law, which include the interception of telephone calls and correspondence in the fight against criminality and the protection of national security.

"We condemn the minister's presence in this operation, strongly and without any reservation. We ask Mallia whether he feels he has compromise the independence of the Security Services, and if the prime minister is aware of this interference or whether he blessed Mallia's presence."

The PN said it will not allow the government to manipulate the Security Service for its own aims and undermine civil liberties and individual privacy.