‘Instead of discussing, the PM wants to impose’, Borg says on anti-deadlock mechanism

Opposition Leader Alex Borg has slammed Prime Minister Robert Abela for wanting to impose his decisions rather than hold discussions.

Borg said that even on the issue of an anti-deadlock mechanism regarding the appointment of a chief justice, the Prime Minister wants to table a proposal in Parliament instead of discussing what it would be.

Speaking in Mellieha on Sunday, Borg addressed the letter sent by Judge Lawrence Mintoff to the Cabinet Secretary, as well as the overall situation surrounding the appointment of the next chief justice.

Borg said that from the appointment of a constitutional position, where one is meant to be looking at how to strengthen the judiciary, “Abela only looked at the partisan aspect.”

Borg said that contrary to Abela, he acted with respect towards the judiciary, the institutions and the people, and with a sense of responsibility. “I knew that the constitution gives me and the Prime Minister the strength to reach agreement, and so with a sense of maturity, I wanted to act cautiously and with respect. At the beginning of January, when I felt the end of term of the current Chief Justice was coming close, I started a discussion, as till then the Prime Minister had still not reached out to me. A few days later he invited me to discuss and we did. He put forward a name, and I showed him that very day she would not have the total backing of parliament, and that is why I felt we needed to continue discussing,” he said, in reference to the first nominee put forward by the government, Judge Consuelo Scerri Herrera. “We as the Opposition put forward four names. I wanted to give a diverse choice of names I feel would be suitable to be chief justice. He did not give me valid reasons as to why they should not be appointed. Instead of continuing to discuss, he went on to put forward his name.”

“He chose to make a political football and act only to respect the PL die-hards, is what the letter by the judge (Mintoff) read,” Borg said.

Borg said he could have given Abela 10 names, but that the way the Prime Minister is reasoning he would have rejected them all “as he does not want a discussion, but wants to impose.” Borg said Abela wants to see how he could gain political points and “not break with his extremists. He wants to see how his party can benefit from this.”

He said that the PN always respected confidentiality and has not said what was said during the discussions. “We are not speaking about people who exited their role, but about sitting judges who, after choice of chief justice is made, will continue to be judges.”

“I looked only at the interest of the people. This is why I said we want an anti-deadlock mechanism, not a mechanism that gives all the power to government, but a mechanism that rises higher than the political level. That is what it means to look at the national interest.”

A few hours after, Borg said, the government responded by saying the Prime Minister will put forward an amendment in Parliament. “Look at the state of the country, instead of discussing, even on this he wants to impose.”

“Without discussing it, he wants to take it to parliament. But to amend the constitution you need 2/3rds of parliament and I will not allow you to walk over us and over the people. Whenever you want I am ready to discuss.”

Borg said that he wanted to be a participant in vision 2050. “I went to listen as the PN wants to be in government and is ready to lead with vision. That is why I wanted to listen and evaluate and see what the vision is. But a vision is not built with propaganda.”

He mentioned the recent National Convention organized by the PN, which he called a success. “We wanted to give a voice to the people, a safe space where everyone feels comfortable speaking up. That is what the convention was, where the party listened as Malta spoke.”

He said proposals emerged from it which the PN is working on.  He spoke of overpopulation, traffic, out of stock medicines as challenges that need to be solved urgently, as well as the issue of lack of open spaces.

The National Convention was the beginning, he said, adding that the party wants to continue building by listening to people, to build a vision for the future. “That is a true vision. We cannot continue reasoning with marketing campaigns.”

While at Vision 2050, he said, he remembered the Metro, mentioning the amount of propaganda there was at the time. “Where is it now? In the document the government published for Vision 2050, under the line item on mass transportation, there is listed To Be announced. With all the millions they spent they weren’t even able to create a mass transportation plan.  In first 100 days as Prime Minister I would start work on mass transportation. He said that in five years the biggest mass transportation line would be ready, so that the people can benefit.

Turning to the tensions in the Middle East and the attacks taking place, he said that it is an eye opener that the world is changing, that realities are changing, and that EU leaders today have a big responsibility to be catalysts for international peace.

“I believe that EU leaders have the will and capacity, but now we need to take the next leap, to keep international stability, to assure guarantees in the economic stability of the world, to guarantee that the maritime aspect of the world remains safeguarded, for societies around the world be safeguarded, not to see any more killing of innocents.”

 

 

 

 

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