PN general council ‘lacked messages of accountability, transparency’ – Franco Debono

Nationalist MP Franco Debono has lamented the lack of importance given to accountability during the PN’s general council, after the government survived a motion against the €35,000 increase in ministerial salaries that the Cabinet awarded itself in May 2008.

“After the honoraria issue, I would have liked to hear more concrete speeches about accountability and transparency, which is what our parliamentary democracy really needs today,” said Debono, who in December 2009 absented himself from crucial parliamentary votes in protest at the lack of attention given to backbenchers and calls for reform.

The MP, a supporter of party finance reform, said the PN general council also failed to mention the need for a law on party financing. “This law is of utmost importance, and directly concerns political parties, and it will bring a whole culture change.”

Debono has been entrusted by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi with the compilation of a report on party financing, before resuming tripartite talks on the subject. He us using the 1995 Galdes Report as a basis to his proposals and will recommend the inclusion of Alternattiva Demokratika in talks.

It is yet unclear if the talks will be held within an ad-hoc parliamentary committee, but Franco Debono stressed that he will “ensure that talks will happen.”