Robert Abela plans a new law to get his chosen standards commissioner

The government is planning to change the law so that it can force through its candidate for the new standards commissioner, introducing a so-called anti-deadlock mechanism.

Sources have confirmed this would be the government’s next step if the motions filed by Prime Minister Robert Abela on Friday – to fill the positions of standards commissioner and ombudsman – do not garner a two-thirds majority in parliament.

Despite failing to come to an agreement with the opposition over both offices, the government has filed parliamentary motions proposing Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon as the new Ombudsman, replacing Anthony Mifsud, and former chief justice Joseph Azzopardi as a replacement for the former Commissioner for Standards in Public Life, George Hyzler.

Abela said he believed that both retired judges have the qualifications, experience, integrity and skills necessary to serve in their respective roles.

The Nationalist Party has agreed on the choice of Zammit McKeon as ombudsman but it has insisted talks need to carry on over who is to become the next standards commissioner.

According to article 4 of the Standards in Public Life Act, a commissioner shall be appointed by the President...