Opposition sceptical over amendments to Gieh ir-Repubblika Act

The Nationalist Opposition is sceptical over the government's decision to amend the law regulating the awarding of Gieh ir-Repubblika, suggesting that the government may have "promised" individuals the honorary title in return for favours.

Addressing parliament this evening, several Nationalist MPs insisted that the title would now lose its "exclusivity" due to the increase in numbers and relaxation of rules of those who could receive the honorary medal.

Opposition MP Kristy Debono said the Opposition had its reserves over how much the proposed amendments were "genuine".

Insisting that the government never honoured its Malta "for all" battle cry, Debono said every decision the government took was based on partisan choices.

She argued that, looking at how the government operated over the past nine months, it was natural that one was sceptical over government's true intentions.

Like her fellow colleagues, Debono referred to the UK's 'cash for honours' scandal. In March 2006, several men nominated for life peerages by then Prime Minister Tony Blair were rejected by the House of Lords Appointments Commission. It was later revealed they had loaned large amounts of money to the governing Labour Party.

"I just hope that we do not face a similar situation were the government awards Gieh ir-Repubblika to individuals who turn out to have financially helped the Labour Party," she said.

MP Mario Galea insisted that the government was chossing quantity over quality: "We have every right to ask what's going on... I hope that is not yet another pre-electoral pledge and it's now time to cash in."

Galea said the Opposition had to ask why the rules had been relaxed and why the government appeared to be in a hurry to pass the amendments.

Recently elected MP Antoine Borg said the Labour government of introducing a culture of "discounts" where nothing "really mattered".

More vociferous, MP Michael Gonzi questioned whether it was "ever possible that in a small country like Malta there were so many exceptional people".

"This honour is about being the best out of the best. The amendments will mean that we will be awarding the best. It has stripped the medal of its exclusivity and importance. It has become just a question of occasion," he said.

Other interventions were made by MPs Marthese Portelli, Ryan Callus and Clyde Puli.

Reacting to the Opposition's criticism, parliamentary secretary for justice Owen Bonnici denied government was in a "hurry" to amend the law, given that the first reading was carried out two months ago.

He said that the PN's criticism was "always the same": "We are all the time accused of being in a hurry or that we failed to consult with the Opposition... we presented the Opposition with the draft bill two months ago."

Bonnici also noted that soon after being elected to government in 2008, the Nationalist administration had presented amendments to the same act.

"The Opposition may have adopted the strategy to be critical of whatever we do. It is its right to do so but it must be careful not to overdo it," he said.

He insisted that the Labour government wanted everyone to feel part of the "new Malta" and that was why - for example - the Prime Minister had nominated 11-year-old singer Gaia Cauchi.

On the Opposition's suggestion that North Korean tyrant Kim Il-Sung should be stripped of his title, Bonnici said he was ready to discuss a mechanism with the Opposition by which this could be carried out.

"However I must note that the PN had 25 years in which they could do it."