Labour accuses PN of stalling chief justice appointment

The Labour Party has accused the Opposition of attempting to stall the judicial sector by refusing to decide on the appointment of a new chief justice.

The party claimed the Opposition does not want parliament to proceed with discussion and a vote on the nomination of Judge Dr Consuelo Scerri Herrera, even though the current chief justice is due to retire imminently.

"The Opposition does not want parliament to proceed with discussion and an eventual vote, even though the current chief justice is due to retire in the coming hours, choosing instead to hide behind procedural excuses," the statement read.

They said Opposition leader Alex Borg has been aware of the nomination since 12 January but has not responded to Prime Minister Robert Abela to confirm whether he has accepted it. The party claimed Borg called two meetings of the PN parliamentary group but refused to discuss the name even with his own MPs, insisting on keeping the decision solely in his hands.

According to the statement, Borg convened an urgent late-night meeting a week ago and said a decision would be communicated, but once again failed to decide. Labour said he is now claiming that he put forward the name of a person whom it is clear he did not discuss with his own parliamentary group.

The party said if internal conflict within the Opposition over the appointment of a chief justice and the resulting stalling of the courts is acceptable to Borg, it is not acceptable to the government.

They called on the Opposition leader to stop obstructing the process and immediately declare his position, stating his reasons clearly if he disagrees with the nomination.

The statement concluded by noting that Borg chose to speak on social media rather than go to parliament and work with the government to move the process forward.

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