[WATCH] Speaker calls for citizens' right to defend their position when mentioned in Parliament

Speaker Anglu Farrugia calls on reform in Parliamentary Standing Orders

Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia called for a reform in the parliamentary standing orders whereby citizens that are mentioned in parliament get the right to defend their position.

In a visit to the Office of the Ombudsman this morning, Farrugia said that there was a need to introduce the possibility for persons or entities to clear their names if they get mentioned in Parliament under the protection offered by this institution.

He said that this reform would introduce the citizen’s right to remedy when they are mentioned in Parliament.

Farrugia explained that the citizen would not be able to take legal action against a Member of Parliament. However, the Speaker would be able to take action once the ‘victim’ presents a petition to him so he can carry out a proper investigation to establish and compare the facts.

The Speaker explained that reform would allow for three remedies when such allegations arise.

The Speaker would either give the MP an opportunity to withdraw the allegation, the right to explain by providing additional information to balance the argument and, thirdly, if allegations are refused, the MP could be sanctioned. 

Ombudsman Joseph Said Pullicino said that his office serves as a defender of citizens' rights and a conscience for public authorities.

He presented a copy of the book “The State’s duty to Inform”, edited by Said Pullicino himself.

Maltatoday was not given the opportunity to ask the Ombudsman questions, in particular regarding the report on Parliamentary Secretary Ian Borg’s property in Rabat.

Video is unavailable at this time.