Investigating breaches of ethics by ministers, members of Parliament and persons of trust, and contributing to the improvement of standards of behaviour in public life

Category: Constitution

07 Nov 2019
Backbench MPs, Constitution

Commissioner for Standards proposes constitutional changes to improve standards in public life
Verdala Palace, Buskett, Malta

Dr George Hyzler, Commissioner for Standards in Public Life, is proposing changes to the Constitution to strengthen the independence of Parliament and the judiciary, and to reinforce the principle of merit in appointments within public administration. The Commissioner’s proposals are set out in a 138-page report which he has presented to the President of Malta…

06 Jul 2019
Backbench MPs, Constitution

Standards Commissioner says the practice of giving government jobs to backbench MPs is “fundamentally wrong” and should end
Exterior detail of the Maltese Parliament building

The Commissioner for Standards in Public Life has issued a report calling for an end to the practice of giving backbench members of Parliament jobs or consultancies with the government. The report describes the practice as “fundamentally wrong”. The Commissioner concluded that this practice dilutes Parliament’s role of scrutinising the executive; goes against the underlying…