Malta's rule of law undercut by frail checks and balances - Council of Europe report

The Council of Europe last year tasked Dutch MP Pieter Omtzigt with ensuring the whole truth emerges about journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination and the rule of law in Malta.

Times of Malta took a look at a draft of this report, which is set to be presented to a Council of Europe committee on Wednesday.

On the PM’s powers

The report highlights the predominant role the Prime Minister plays in Malta’s constitutional arrangements, sitting at the centre of political power, with extensive powers of appointment.

It notes how the Prime Minister’s office has taken over responsibility for various areas of activity that present particular risks of money laundering, including on-line gaming, investment migration and regulation of financial services, including cryptocurrencies

Key quote: “Senior officials in the civil service are appointed by the Prime Minister, which is problematic from the perspective of checks and balances.

“Large numbers of ‘persons of trust’ are appointed topublic posts through non-transparent procedures that provide for exceptions to merit-based appointments, which may be illegal, and is a danger to the quality of the civil service.”

On the...