Rights, favours and a sick political culture
People should be able to access a social benefit, or be treated in a timely manner in the health system, because it is their right and not because someone is doing them a favour....
Clientelism destroys social justice
If Robert Abela wants to be believed when he says his government will not accept abuse, he should pressure the police force – like he did the magistrate in the Jean Paul...
‘Freedom of speech’ is not ‘wisdom to speak’

Freedom does not imply freedom from the consequences of what one says... this...

Freedom does not imply freedom from the consequences of...

A PR exercise, for a worthy cause...

On the surface, it was a generous donation to a worthy cause. But even at a glance, it is evident that there were ulterior motives behind this generosity

On the surface, it was a generous donation to a worthy...

The rise of ‘social media rule’

If government uses social media to bypass advertising spending in newspapers, it would be deliberately debilitating the newspaper industry’s...

If government uses social media to bypass...

Silence will not make the issue go away

Muscat said nothing about the matter until three years after both Pilatus Bank and Sadr himself came to public attention. Why did the news have to be revealed...

Muscat said nothing about the matter until three years...

Pilatus: the headache that won’t go away

The Malta Financial Services Authority has ordered the removal of Ali Sadr...

The Malta Financial Services Authority has ordered the...

Laws are useless without enforcement

 We have in many ways improved our traffic infrastructure over the years: perhaps it is time to revise our traffic policing methods accordingly

 We have in many ways improved our traffic...

‘Instant vilification’ is not ‘discussion’

To call pro-choice women ‘murderers’ and ‘animals’ does...

To call pro-choice women ‘murderers’ and...

A political pension bombshell

The Bill, which would have allowed MPs to claim a parliamentary pension after serving just one legislature seemed to confirm popular suspicions that both sides...

The Bill, which would have allowed MPs to claim a...

A new class of poverty

Government would do well to remember that it is there to improve the country’s lot... not just its own.

Government would do well to remember that it is there to...

A game changer for Malta

Following the outcomes of Italy's national election, one can only expect relations between the two countries to be frosty, under such circumstances.

Following the outcomes of Italy's national election,...

A small victory for common sense

Access to open spaces is more than just a luxury: it is a fundamental prerequisite, and with proper planning policies in place, it should not be too difficult...

Access to open spaces is more than just a luxury: it is a...

Clientelism – the bane of Maltese politics

 It is undeniable that many people regard politicians as a means to an...

 It is undeniable that many people regard politicians...

A perversion of the democratic principle

Paying the private sector for consultancy is tantamount to paying a lobbyist to influence decision-making, in a way that is obviously going to be beneficial to...

Paying the private sector for consultancy is tantamount to...

Everything is permissible

 Hardly a day goes by without a reminder of our cultural past being consigned to demolition, with no regard for the resulting overbuilt environment

 Hardly a day goes by without a reminder of our...

Grief must run its full course

To suppress the manifestation of national grief for Daphne Caruana Galizia, would not only be an affront to ordinary human decency. It would also be recklessly...

To suppress the manifestation of national grief for Daphne...

Mental illness is no laughing matter

While jokes like this can’t be condoned, they should serve as a reminder that more needs to be done on mental health, rather than an excuse to direct...

While jokes like this can’t be condoned, they should...

Malta’s misplaced identity debate

Foreigners who live, work and pay taxes in Malta are denied the possibility to at least apply for citizenship; while the wealthy are encouraged to simply buy a...

Foreigners who live, work and pay taxes in Malta are denied...

Transparency is an obligation, not a choice

Is the government bound to pay hefty penalties? Should it renege on its...

Is the government bound to pay hefty penalties? Should it...