'Ombudsman's office must be completely independent' - PN

Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil reiterated the party’s support for a completely independent Ombudsman and urged common sense to prevail in the appointment of the new Ombudsman next year.

“The individual chosen has to be free of any partisan links,” he said stressing that the PN would always respect the independence of the Office of the Ombudsman.

Speaking at a courtesy meeting with Ombudsman Joseph Said Pullicino, Busuttil also reiterated his belief that any constitutional reform should be undertaken only if chaired by the President of the republic.

During the meeting, Said Pullicino was also presented with the PN’s document on good governance, which includes various proposals such as the setting up of a Ministry for Good Governance, which would be citizens' first stop before resorting to the Ombudsman. 

Remarking that this visit marked the first time an Opposition leader had visited the Ombudsman, Said Pullicino also presented Busuttil with a copy of the book “The State’s Duty to Inform”,

He added that he had found many of the proposals made in the PN document agreeable and he expressed his hope that further positive convergence could lead to the right constitutional change.