[WATCH] PN says it’s time for institutions to ‘clean up their act’

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The Nationalist Party has said that it’s now high time that institutions cleaned up their act, and that its document on good governance was a response to the fears and concerns among the people in the country.

Speaking ahead of a consultation meeting with members of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, PN leader Simon Busuttil, said that corruption and the lack of good governance practices had become cause for concern among the public.

Quoting results published in a Eurobarometer survey in December which pointed out trust in the government had dropped by 5% since last year, Busuttil explained that the document presented over 100 proposals that the PN sought to adopt if it was elected into government in the upcoming general elections.

Busuttil added that the opposition was presenting the document to show that the PN had every intention to look at the mistakes of the past and learn from them.

In a presentation outlining some of the proposals in the document, citizens’ rights spokesperson Clyde Puli explained that at the core of the document was an understanding that power was only lent to the government by the public itself.


He explained that the document touches on various sectors including inclusion, financial management and citizen participation among others.

Among the proposals, the PN pointed out that it wished to restore autonomy to public institutions which are required to act independently of the government, as well as changing the election procedure of electing the president of the Republic from a simple majority to a two thirds majority.

Other proposals include the publication of a list of those acquiring citizenship under the IIP scheme, as well as reintroducing the ban for those in government to still have private practices.

With reference to public broadcasting, Puli said that this should cease to be a propaganda tool and that the public ought to be given the raw fact to show respect for their right to decide.

PN deputy leaders Mario de Marco and Beppe Fenech Adami, secretary general Rosette Thake, whip David Agius, justice and citizens’ rights spokespersons Jason Azzopardi and Clyde Puli, also participated in a discussion which continued behind closed doors.