Momentum pledges to criminalise political favours

Momentum is proposing criminal penalties for political favours and the publication of all magisterial inquiries in their set of anti-corruption proposals.

The party said its three proposals aim to change how corruption is investigated, prosecuted and made public, adding that existing systems have failed to hold those in power accountable.

Among the measures is the creation of a dedicated Special Prosecutor’s Office tasked with handling high-profile corruption cases independently. 

The party is also proposing new laws to criminalise both the requesting and granting of political favours, targeting practices it says have led to repeated scandals such as the driving licences scandal and benefits fraud scandal. According to Momentum, these cases reflect a wider political culture in which public services are treated as transactional benefits.

Their third proposal would introduce the automatic publication of magisterial inquiries once completed, with limited exceptions. The party argued that greater transparency is necessary to ensure public scrutiny and prevent inquiries from remaining undisclosed.

Momentum candidate Carmel Asciak said the proposals are intended to address systemic issues affecting governance and public trust, particularly where people are impacted by politically motivated decisions.

The party stated that the reforms are designed to ensure corruption cases are pursued effectively and that findings are made accessible to the public.