The e-scooter ban is a kneejerk reaction
The government’s action, when opting for an outright ban on rental e-scooters, is typical of how authorities under pressure react when dealing with disruptive...
The will and the tools to fight corruption
Six long years after Daphne’s murder it would appear that at best political pique is to blame for the lack of a comprehensive effort to combat corruption; and at worst...
A political leadership vacuum

Muscat defends his inaction by describing it as ‘caution’ and ‘prudence’; but the political world is different from the formalistic...

Muscat defends his inaction by describing it as...

Risking everything on Panama

Muscat rode into government on the strength of some high expectations. From this perspective, it is inconceivable that the Prime Minister continues to drag his...

Muscat rode into government on the strength of some high...

No man is bigger than government

While Malta’s own Panamagate scandal can now be seen as part of a far wider international controversy, the very different reactions locally and abroad...

While Malta’s own Panamagate scandal can now be seen...

Stability is not an end in itself

Stability and freedom are not interchangeable. The world’s most repressive dictatorships are ‘stable’, precisely because they curtail the...

Stability and freedom are not interchangeable. The...

Snapshot of a changing nation

Malta’s political parties often seem content with a status quo that no longer suffices to placate an increasingly demanding and independent-minded public

Malta’s political parties often seem content with a...

No ordinary war

There is a paradox, no doubt well known to terrorists, whereby the only way to respond to attacks on Western liberal democracy is to limit and curtail...

There is a paradox, no doubt well known to terrorists,...

Pardons do not solve crimes

It is abundantly clear that the ‘truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth’ has not yet emerged in the oil procurement case

It is abundantly clear that the ‘truth, the whole...

A battle worth fighting

One cannot represent both liberals and conservatives, or appeal to both environmentalists and the construction industry. Yet both parties attempt to do...

One cannot represent both liberals and conservatives, or...

The election campaign starter pistol

The truth is that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s administration is reeling from a blow that may well have fatal long-term consequences. 

The truth is that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s...

Between principle and political reality

‘Panamagate’ touches on several crucial endemic problems with our political system, first and foremost the question of accountability

‘Panamagate’ touches on several crucial endemic...

A government in denial

The Prime Minister must come to terms with the seriousness of the situation for another reason: ‘Panamagate’ has also exposed glaring...

The Prime Minister must come to terms with the seriousness...

Good governance cannot be an empty pledge

A warning shot has been fired across the bows of Prime Minister Joseph...

A warning shot has been fired across the bows of Prime...

A question of trust

Mizzi must make a full disclosure, declare his assets in his register of assets, and then close the operations

Mizzi must make a full disclosure, declare his assets in...

The Church’s position is indefensible

The paper launched by Archbishop Charles Scicluna in person was so illogical and unsound, that its authors felt the need to ‘clarify’ their...

The paper launched by Archbishop Charles Scicluna in...

Parliament must be above suspicion

Recent revelations have unfortunately cemented a perception of nepotism and political cronyism having infiltrated even the country’s most sensitive...

Recent revelations have unfortunately cemented a perception...

Technocrats are not the solution

If such powers of appointment are granted to the Prime Minister, it would effectively mean that our electoral system would be up to a point misleading

If such powers of appointment are granted to the Prime...

Euthanasia: time for mature debate

When dealing with terminal, degenerative conditions such as ALS – and there are many others – Malta has traditionally avoided discussing whether...

When dealing with terminal, degenerative conditions such as...

Joseph Muscat’s ‘missing link’

After the Mintoff era, Labour struggled for years to come to terms with a new identity. Muscat is right to want to modernise his party’s...

After the Mintoff era, Labour struggled for years to come...