Reforming the justice system
The proposed reforms to the criminal justice system - authored by retired judge Antonio Mizzi and unveiled last week by Justice Minister Jonathan Attard – are a welcome...
Dogs are as dangerous as their owners
Hopefully, we will not have to wait for another episode of this horror show, for action to be finally taken
The other side of history

Even without the benefit of hindsight, it was naïve to think – as many at the time suggested – that Libya’s troubles would end with the...

Even without the benefit of hindsight, it was naïve to...

Of state funding and public trust

The discussion on party financing should focus less on the possible benefits to the parties, and more on bolstering the parties’ credibility

The discussion on party financing should focus less on the...

No Plan B for Libya

Evidently there is no point in keeping up the pretence that one can “deal with” the Libyan government as with any other country.

Evidently there is no point in keeping up the pretence that...

No toying with democracy

In a democracy, the cancellation of an election at any level can only set alarm bells ringing.

In a democracy, the cancellation of an election at any...

Deafening silence on Israeli crisis

We have seen how the same international community which responded so decisively in Libya has been reluctant to involve itself in other equally volatile...

We have seen how the same international community which...

The cost of trade with China

Surely a puritanical argument against trade and cooperation with countries which do not fit our definition of democracy does not hold water. But that does not...

Surely a puritanical argument against trade and cooperation...

An overdue step in the right direction

No one can deny that our approach to this issue on a legislative level has to date been highly irrational: guided for the most part by political considerations...

No one can deny that our approach to this issue on a...

A culture of condoning irregularities

Nowhere is this culture more visible than in the widespread cavalier disregard for planning policies and regulations by both developers and the national...

Nowhere is this culture more visible than in the widespread...

Not quite Dubai, but almost

Comparisons are inevitable, and Muscat’s choice will surely have struck a slightly dissonant chord.

Comparisons are inevitable, and Muscat’s choice will...

Political parties are not above the law

Even as the Nationalist and Labour parties spent years arguing over their respective plans to ‘rescue’ the State energy corporation, both were...

Even as the Nationalist and Labour parties spent years...

White Rocks, or white elephant?

While one welcomes the fact that a call for expressions of interest has been issued this time round, one cannot but express concern about the fact that the...

While one welcomes the fact that a call for expressions of...

Integration is not an option

As has been rightly pointed out elsewhere, the single greatest barrier to integration remains fear… and the unknown is the primary case for fear in any...

As has been rightly pointed out elsewhere, the single...

The Iraqi crisis calls for a global approach

So far news reporters have been reluctant to modify their terminology...

So far news reporters have been reluctant to modify their...

There is more than one kind of ‘worth’

If the Muscat administration wants to live up to its earlier promise of a just...

If the Muscat administration wants to live up to its...

Malta needs to confront its weight problem

Local and international studies suggest that weight problems, in particular...

Local and international studies suggest that weight...

Small steps forward, giant strides back

The trapping precedent shows us how government achieves this aim, too: as a rule, by delegating responsibility to a supposedly independent authoritative...

The trapping precedent shows us how government achieves...

Undermining democracy

The biggest problem by far concerns the broader implications of this new hunters' petition, should the government cave in to its outrageous demands. 

The biggest problem by far concerns the broader...

Lessons from the electorate

Malta is changing; and unless its political parties likewise change, they will be simply left behind.

Malta is changing; and unless its political parties...