Government ‘delaying’ new code of ethics to coincide with reshuffle

The publication of the revised ministerial code of ethics will be "delayed" to coincide with the Cabinet reshuffle, MaltaToday has learned.

According to informed sources, the "final drafts" of the new ministerial code of ethics have been passed on to the Cabinet, but Joseph Muscat wants its publication to coincide with the reshuffle.

Questions on the matter sent to the Office of the Prime Minister a month ago remained unanswered. MaltaToday sought to clarify at what stage was the process, whether a copy of the draft revision would be passed on to the Opposition for consultation, and when is the new code of ethics expected to come into force.

While the sources were tight-lipped on any changes to the code of ethics, it is no secret that the Prime Minister wants a "slimmer code".

Speculation on an imminent Cabinet reshuffle has been rife, intensifying as one media outlet after the other reported that Social Solidarity Minister Marie Louise Coleiro Preca was being considered for the President's role. The sources said it "would make sense" if the code of ethics were to be published during the same period of the reshuffle.

Following the appointment of MPs - mostly doctors by profession - to the Cabinet, discussion raged on allowing the newly-appointed ministers "a handover period".

Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia and Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella had been in the media's spotlight for a number of weeks for reportedly continuing to see patients following their appointment.

Back in June last year, Muscat had suggested that a new code of ethics for government ministers and MPs would be slimmer and carry less detail than the current code.

"I think this code is too voluminous and it makes it impossible for people to follow it to the letter. I think it should it be slimmer, with principles that leave no doubt as to what its red lines are," he had said.

According to the 1995 code of ethics of members of parliament, government ministers and secretaries have to relinquish their private, professional duties once they take up their official duties.

Controversy raged when parliamentary secretary Franco Mercieca was granted a limited waiver to attend to patients who needed his specialist ophthalmology surgical services.

At the time, Muscat had argued that it was his right as prime minister to take a decision on the code of ethics and how it applies to ministers.

"Today the situation is that this code of ethics has a proviso, and it has been used for ministers who have lectured at the University of Malta. With all due respect, I believe it was designed particularly for lawyers. And I don't see a problem with this. If it wasn't for this proviso, university students would not have had the privilege of attending lectures by a statist like Guido de Marco," Muscat had said.