PN does not want Scerri Herrera as Chief Justice; PL reacts
Leader of the Opposition Alex Borg said that he already told Prime Minister Robert Abela that there would be no agreement on the name the latter proposed for the post of Chief Justice.
Prime Minister Abela had proposed Judge Consuelo Scerri Herrera for the post, and the news became public a few days ago when Justice Minister Jonathan Attard spoke to the press last week.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Robert Abela said the government will move ahead with the nomination of Justice Consuelo Scerri Herrera as chief justice “in the very near future” if Opposition leader Alex Borg does not clearly state whether he agrees with the choice. But in a statement later in the Day, the Nationalist Party said that Borg once again wrote to Prime Minister Robert Abela regarding the appointment of the Chief Justice, following the Prime Minister’s decision to table a Motion in Parliament proposing Judge Consuelo Scerri Herrera.
“In his letter, the Leader of the PN reminded the Prime Minister that during their last private meeting, he had already informed him that there would be no agreement on the name proposed by the Prime Minister.”
It said that Borg also recalled that during the same meeting, he had put forward the name of another individual, and that on that occasion Robert Abela had informed him that he would take this proposal back to the Labour Parliamentary Group for discussion and would then inform him of the outcome.
“To date, this has not happened. Instead, the Prime Minister publicly revealed the name of the sitting judge of his choice for this position, despite knowing that there was no agreement on this nomination.”
“In light of this, the Leader of the Opposition continues in his letter, it is difficult to understand why the Prime Minister insists on persisting to the extent of tabling a Motion in Parliament on a person whom he already knew would not secure the necessary consensus. This is certainly not in the best interests of justice, particularly when a sitting member of the judiciary is being subjected to such a situation.”
The PN said that “while reminding the Prime Minister that he is still awaiting a response regarding the name he had proposed, the Leader of the Opposition also reiterated that he is still awaiting a reply to his request for a date and time to continue discussions on this matter in a mature, discreet, and institutionally appropriate manner.”
Alex Borg concluded by stating that during this meeting – which he is still awaiting – he would also be in a position, if necessary, to put forward for discussion with the Prime Minister further names which, in his view, could also be valid candidates to be considered for this role, the PN said.
PL statement
The Nationalist Opposition is seeking to paralyse the judicial sector by refusing to take a decision, the Labour Party (PL) said. “This became clear during tonight’s parliamentary sitting, when the Prime Minister put forward a motion for Judge Consuelo Scerri Herrera to be appointed as the new Chief Justice of the Courts of Justice of Malta. The Opposition does not want Parliament to proceed with a discussion and an eventual vote, even though the current Chief Justice is due to retire in the coming hours, choosing instead to hide behind procedural excuses.”
The PL said: “With those who have long dictated how the Opposition should decide calling the shots, the Opposition is comfortably dragging its feet at the expense of the national interest. The Leader of the Opposition has been aware of the nomination of Judge Consuelo Scerri Herrera for the post of Chief Justice since 12 January, yet he gave no response to Prime Minister Robert Abela to indicate whether he accepted the nomination or not. Alex Borg called two meetings of the PN Parliamentary Group, but as reported by the local press, he refused to discuss the name even with his own MPs, insisting on keeping the decision solely in his hands. A week ago, ahead of an urgent late-night meeting he himself convened, Borg said that a decision would be communicated – but once again failed to decide. He is now claiming that he put forward the name of a person whom it is clear he did not discuss with his own Parliamentary Group.”
Alex Borg must stop playing for time and put the nation’s interest first, the PL said.
“If internal discord within his own party, over the appointment of a Chief Justice – and the resulting stalling of the Courts – is acceptable to him, it certainly is not acceptable to the government. If the Leader of the Opposition truly cares about this sector, he must stop obstructing this process and immediately declare his position. If he disagrees, he must clearly state his reasons. Alex Borg chose Facebook instead of going to Parliament and, together with the government, moving this process forward.”
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