Because you mention Germany:
In Germany, suspects have the right to consult a lawyer at all times, before and during the interrogation: § 136 I 2 StPO (Strafprozessordnung = Code of Criminal Procedure). Of course they can also always opt not to answer any questions at all. In fact, when the police invite you to being questioned as a suspect, you don’t even need to show up. Only the prosecutor’s office or a judge can summon a suspect.

I have my doubts about whether a person suspected of committing a crime should have the right to be assisted by a lawyer during questioning by the police. However the European Court of Human Rights has ruled in favour of this right. http://livingtheeuropeandream.blogspot.com/2011/07/right-to-lawyer-during-police.html

It’s not even a right for a majority of European citizens.

The governments of Germany, France, Belgium and other countries are vehemently opposed to its introduction and last year blocked Commissioner Reading from pushing forward a directive which was proposing its Europe-wide introduction.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court of Canada, last year started putting restrictions on the right, particularly in the case of serious crimes.

I think that Il-Frank believes that if he seen something he likes in a Hollywood movie or CSI, then that something must be right and he likes it. And if he likes it, everyone likes it and it must become law.

And I still say it was for his own political rather than personal expedient; it made me refuse to want to play his game at the time.

Yes and yes. The aggravating factor is that Carm Mifsud Bonnici’s finally wrote the official report. Franco – having mistakenly believed that he was commissioned to write the report, when he was asked to prepare the groundwork so as to make him feel important – threw a wobbly.

I can’t help wondering how all these big ego small men would have coped had they been born women.

How so? He can’t do any more harm than he’s already done. The quicker everyone is shot of him, the better.

@La Redoute,
Franco is not just “insufferable.” He is insatiable.

It could become sticky with Labour using him as an alibi.

Convenient when the programme is an impossible achievement.

Was the party financing thesis the same one judged below par and which nearly cost him his LL.D graduation?

And was Ugo Mifsud Bonnici on the thesis adjucating panel which explains why there is no love lost between Franco and Carmelo Misfsud Bonnico (Ugo’s son)?

Franco has so many chips on his shoulder(s) that he could keep the nearest greasy spoon take-away supplied for days.

Joseph Muscat wrote a thesis on state finance for political parties – three years before Debono did.