What an unbelievable scandal
Last night, the government announced Franco Debono’s appointment as Commissioner of Laws, in terms of the 1980 Revisions of Statutory Laws Act.
The last person to hold this position, as far as I can recall, was the late Edgar Mizzi in the 1980s, though I stand to be corrected on that. His official title was not Law Commissioner, though, but chairman of the Law Reform Commission.
Debono’s job now is to review Maltese laws and recommend to parliament which laws should be repealed. He is not permitted to change the substance of any law.
The government has also appointed Franco Debono “coordinator of the Constitutional Convention”. This is that farcical business about changing the Constitution so that Joseph Muscat’s premiership with be associated with what he even more farcically calls “the Second Republic” (if Borg Olivier had Independence, Mintoff had the Republic, Eddie Fenech Adami had EU membership, then Muscat needs to have a Second Republic).
These two appointments are scandalous on several counts.
1. Joseph Muscat campaigned under the slogan Malta Taghna Lkoll and spoke a great deal about meritocracy. Yet his appointments so far have been based on anything but merit, and instead on services rendered to Joseph Muscat and the Malta Labour Party. This is but the latest.
2. Muscat has got what he needed from Franco Debono. Debono is not in a position to destabilise his government, cause trouble in the ranks or stab him in the back. Therefore he did not need to reward him, let alone reward him so conspicuously with this position. Any rational, sensible and intelligent person will therefore conclude that this deal was struck well ahead of the general election and that this is the reason Debono caused so much trouble for his party and then brought down the government in December.
3. We know for a fact that Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando struck a deal with Labour on the matter of Richard Cachia Caruana (the information was leaked from Labour HQ that it was Jeffrey who took the proposal for the vote to Labour and not Labour who approached Jeffrey). Now we can also conclude beyond reasonable doubt that Labour – positive, liberal and progressive Labour – also struck a deal with Franco Debono. Do you remember how people said he was destroying his life and his career by bringing deown the government? He wasn’t. His career would have been over if he hadn’t brought down the government. By promising to make him Law Commissioner if he went ahead and brought down the government, Joseph Muscat handed Debono a career lifeline and Debono took it.
4. So the Labour Party plotted with Franco Debono to bring down the government on the budget vote, promising to make him Law Commissioner if he did so. The very same Labour Party, having brought that plot to fruition, will now be using that very same budget it voted against in December. What we are looking here is a very deep degree of amorality. Yes, I know that amorality is widely admired in Malta and not distinguished from ‘wajs’, but as I say repeatedly, there are two Maltas and the other Malta finds this shocking and disturbing. Unfortunately, we are in a small minority because the bulk of the population is made up of, as H. P. Baxxter put it, “pimps, thieves and fools”. What we have now is a government that perfectly represents this mentality.
5. Franco Debono is seriously psychologically unsound and a case for the psychiatrist’s couch. Sadly, the Maltese definition of a psychiatric case is somebody who rambles through the streets wearing an odd jumble of clothes and singing to himself. It never occurs to most that psychiatric cases can get up in the morning, get dressed and go to work. You only have to read his blog on a regular basis to see evidence of a really unsound mind. The prime minister knows that Franco Debono is not normal.
It is this very factor which he used to manipulate him (he would not have been able to manipulate a person of sound psyche in a similar fashion). And yet Muscat appointed him Law Commissioner and “coordinator of the Constitutional Convention”, fully aware that is he is a highly disturbed individual. Now we are no longer speaking of amorality, but of dangerous, reckless irresponsibility.
I suggest you go to his blog right now and ask yourself whether this is the product of a mind and personality that should be entrusted with reviewing all of Malta’s legislation. And then I suggest you watch this video again, of the man who Joseph Muscat has just appointed Law Commissioner and ‘coordinator of the Constitutional Convention’, celebrating with a Labour mob in the streets and Labour club of Gudja.
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I’m debating whether to laugh or cry.
Cry…every country gets the government it deserves and that includes the minority that did not vote for it.
I really cannot under the dictum that ‘every country gets the government it deserves’ surely one must take into account the minority that did not vote for and therefore does not deserve the government it gets.
I’m crying — for Malta.
And now the third problem is Jesmond Mugliett. He is the only one of the trio who held higher positions so it will be difficult to please him.
I am sure an appointment for his wife will shut him up. After all, he carries the handbag.
Well, maybe next week or the one after we’ll know what Jesmond Mugliett’s thirty pieces of silver will look like. He was seen mid-week going up the Castille steps at around 4.45pm, as furtively as is possible.
How much is he going to be paid?
Pity he made arrangements to move to Italy. What a waste of time and money. Or was it only a smokescreen?
“He is not permitted to change the substance of any law.” Thank you for pointing this out. It is very important.
18000 Euros plus, a further 6000 Euros in ‘allowances’, AND he is allowed to continue his private practice (with ‘conflict of interest’ thrown to the wind).
Just over €500 a week……kumbinazzjoni.
I can just about hear him telling members of the previous cabinet “Issa hudu go fikhom”.
almost 18k + 6k benefits for a part time job
Who has the job of reminding him who the Prime Minister is the next time he goes on One tv?
Is it true Mickey Mouse wears a Frankie Tabone wristwatch?
The nation needs answers.
I would love to see a debate between Franco Debono, JPO and Daphne on Bondi+.
I think that many truth will come out and it will be of a great entertainment for us.
[Daphne – How does entertainment come into this? These serious matters are not a Roman-era gladiator spectacle for the delectation of the masses.]
Another peasant thinking that Daphne is a politician.
This is not my kind of ‘entertainment’.
Daphne will win this debate.
“We know for a fact that Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando struck a deal with Labour on the matter of Richard Cachia Caruana..”
And they are still not satisfied. Just read that Labour rag, Malta Today. It’s war on all fronts. It serves Dalli well to divert attention from himself.
It also gives the lie to Joseph Muscat’s statement that “se nhalli lill PN jigi fuq saqajh u mhux se nfixkel”.
May I ask what more do they want from Richard Cachia Caruana?
HIs head on a tray. I just cannot fathom these idiots – they won the election by a landslide victory and still they are full of ‘hdura’ and ‘lanzit’. It seems they still want to bury their percieved enemy. If I were a psychiatrist I would say that they are very much still unsure of themselves and their future.
Malta Today? I`ve resolved to stop buying this newspaper. It has become so revoltingly pro-Labour, it has lost its appeal.
GAS DOWN GHAL GOL-HAJT. Did-darba flok ta’ Berlin ta’ Malta taghna lkoll.
Lura ghas-socjalizmu tas-70s u l-80s. Nithassar lil uliedi u lil uliedhom li ha jkollom jghaddu milli ghaddejt jien fi tfuliti u zoghziti.
Inkurraggihom li ihallu Malta ghal futur ahjar.
All the masks have come off at last.
That puts paid once and for all that “is-sewwa jirbah zgur.”
These are dark times indeed for this country.
Sad moment “ghal nies ta’ rieda tajba”.
Upon what grounds does Debono select which laws are to be repealed or changed? Does he have an open hand?
With the Labour majority in Parliament he may easily have certain laws repealed even though such laws are needed.
What checks and balances are there to protect citizens from this?
Do not forget this:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120508/…/debono-said.4189...
All constitutional experts must unite and contribute on what Debono is going to suggest. They owe it to Malta as a country and not to Malta Taghna Lkoll.
The link takes me somewhere else. Weird.
The concept of ‘what is owed’ to the people is not in the Labour book on how to govern the nation. I pretty much doubt that FD is a constitutional expert.
However, I believe that the real problem lies in the fact that Malta lacks real intellectuals. It seems that they have all evaporated into thin air. Everywhere one looks, one only sees the Facebook brigades and the utterly senseless individuals.
He has collected his thirty pieces of silver.
[Daphne – Ah, but instead of hanging himself, he’s going to help hang the country.]
True. A measure for the low standards some people set themselves. Pity they can’t see through to the longer term.
Call it what you wish, either proverbial justice or a proverbial f**k up. People have voted out a government because of a 300K increase in minister’s salaries and they ended up with a bill of over 6 million.
With such a large Cabinet and commissions and boards for every imaginable reason, most of the population is going to be on some board and committee at an extra expense to the taxpayer.
Will there be any work left for the actual ministers and the hundreds of civil servants? Has Joseph forgotten that we are a dot of an island with 400,000 inhabitants? Half the population is going to be paid to govern the other half.
The next election is for Labour to lose rather than the PN to win. Such actions go towards just that.
But this time there are no regrets.
It’s a microscopically insignificant post to mockingly reward an equally inconsequential little squab. He can now coo happily in his little guano-corner until he slowly fades away into his own wretched obscurity.
Cheers to a future of insignificance, FD!
Yep blatant as it is the role of the Commissioner of Laws is basically a copy-editor of the laws that have already been published with sweeping powers such as the correction of typos and the deletion of laws no longer in force. Touch wood he will be supervised though.
That’s not the only job Franco’s got. He’s also overseeing the convention for constitutional reform and the law on party financing.
The only way that people should challenge Franco Debono is to see what he is going to propose and use all necessary legal means to challenge any stupidities. Joseph Muscat should have used a retired judge.
Noel Arrigo?
After the election result the PN should have chucked out Franco Debono from the party.
Now it is too late to do it because it will be accused of not ‘collaborating’ to the ‘unity’ that Muscat is constantly telling us about.
The PN needs to seriously get its house in order – it owes it to the 132,000 people who voted for it.
Please, please do it sooner or later otherwise it may be too late. The JM government is barging ahead and making sure that it does not cross the line. Wake up Malta please.
“Now it is too late to do it because it will be accused of not ‘collaborating’ to the ‘unity’ that Muscat is constantly telling us about. ”
What ‘unity’ are we on about? Don’t repeat what Joseph said at the ceremony yesterday, namely that the change in protocol goes to show unity in government.
Government is distinct from the opposition. Each has a role to play. If he really wanted unity he should have worked for it while in opposition,. But back then the sole objective was to win the election.
Joseph preys on political ignorance and gets away with it.
That is why I put unity in inverted commas – because I know that Muscat is playing with the word unity. I am definitely not repeating what Joseph said. It is not the first time he has used the word ‘unity’.
Right on every count you post, maryanne.
That change in protocol was offensive. Muscat put on display the very ignorance that has irritated the better educated and informed. The President represents the state. The prime minister represents government, and not the party he leads.
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-03-23/news/franco-debono-to-be-appointed-commissioner-of-law-1239482369/
Bet the first law will be to close off all bloggers from writing.
And if there is such a law, there will be the security to check up on it.
That would be the start of dictatorship and we cannot let him get away with it. He will have to close off internet to do that.
Quickly followed by repealing the animal cruelty laws to allow for his old pass-time.
He can’t do that because he’d have to shut down his own blog.
This was bound to happen. Labour will appease Franco and continue to use him and his relentless diatribes against the PN “evil clique” for years to come.
He is still useful, even if only to keep him nipping at the PN s heels and to bolster labour’s idea of a moviment nazzjonali made up of people from all sides of the political divide.
And I will place a bet that Franco’s public career will go even further. Meritocracy? Sounds more like Irresponsibleatocracy to me.
Ours is a country where such senseless things can happen.
Read ‘dictatorship’
The Government can repeal laws as it deems fit. But as regards constituitional amendments, the Government has to discuss them with the Opposition in an appropriate way.
Shouldn’t the head of constitutional convention be someone BOTH parties can trust and work with? Malta tieghu biss.
Maybe it’s fitting that he is a Kummissarju minghajr sustanza
Blackmail is immoral.
Throughout the past legislature, Debono and JPO blackmailed Prime Minister Gonzi with the one seat majority for personal gain and to satisfy their own ego.
By blackmailing the Prime Minister, they betrayed the people who gave them their vote.
The rewarding of blackmail is immoral. It rewards disloyalty. It ridicules an important value – that of loyalty.
The rewarding of Debono and JPO is immoral, irrespective of political expediency.
This government is being immoral.
Ramona Frendo (the tal-pepe switcher from a Labour family in Zejtun) is to be a member of the commission for the reform of the justice system.
Meritocray at its best. Where there no other lawyers with more court experience who would have contributed more to this commission?
Is Franco going to have a ‘copyright’ on the suggestions he has made before the election? Something tells me that he would have loved to be a member of this commission, rather than the more minor role he was given.
Meritocracy and Malta Tagħna Lkoll my foot! Wasn’t this nut case supposed to settle in Italy?
Ghaxaq not Gudja
The PN should boycott the bastards in anything they do or propose.
“Judge Bonello will be paid €2,500 per month while the other members will receive €1,500.
Replying to questions on the appointment of Franco Debono as Law Commissioner, announced yesterday, Dr Bonnici said no other people had been considered for the position and Dr Debono was the only one who was approached, because of his experience as chairman of the parliamentary committee for the codification of law in the last parliament. His pay was benchmarked with that of the other commissioners, such as the Commissioner for Children, reduced by 40% to €18,401 since he is able to continue private practice.
He also has allowance of €6,000. The term of office is for one year.” (The Times)
30 silver pieces
‘In my time, Mr. Willem, I’ve seen Whitehall skirts go up and come down again. I’ve listened to all the excellent argument for doing nothing and reaped the consequent frightful harvest. I’ve watched people hop up and down, and call it progress. I’ve seen good men go to the wall and the idiots get promoted with a dazzling regularity.
All I am left with is me.’
“It means that if a rogue elephant, to use Saul Enderby’s happy phrase, charges at me out of the thicket of my past and gives me a second shot at it, I intend to shoot it dead – but with the minimum of force.”
PN take heed.
Now Joseph is going through his skip and sorting out the rubbish.
I’m actually not pleased with this appointment.
It’s not weighty enough.
He is, unfortunately, perfectly harmless in that office.
But you never know. Franco is not one to lie low. He’s like a bag of fireworks with the fuse lit, you never know how long the fuse is but even if you hide the bag under a stone it will still eventually go off.
How is Franco Debono’s appointment perfectly harmless? He’s not just rooting out dead laws. He’s overseeing constituional reform and the laws on party financing.
Owen Bonnici has also said that Debono may be assigned additional duties.
Apparently, he will also be allowed to retain his private practice – http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130324/local/franco-debono.462651
This is becoming scary. The country has surely changed direction, hypocrites, opportunists and human beings with no political principles are taking over important posts.
Our freedom of speech and rule of law are seriously in danger, meritocracy is already thrown away.
We need to be very careful, next target is media, all sorts of media, and after that education control. In the end, we will be living in a state controlled nation which does not fit European principles. Eventually, the government will make the argument of pulling Malta out of EU membership and after that god help us all.
Thanks for the switchers for fu**ing up Malta.
[Daphne – I think many of them were deliberately deceived by Labour’s cynical approach.]
If you look at the comments on timesofmalta.com’s board, you’d think everyone in the country is delighted about this appointment.
Everyone in this country does not post comments on timesofmalta.com Most of those are Elves, Franco Debono in various guises, and Eddy Privitera (same difference).
There is a sacred principle here at stake. We are now embracing a brand new set of values where people who have no respect for party allegiance and loyalty are being rewarded and showcased as exemplary figures and given important, sensitive posts.
History tends to repeat itself and leaders should be wise enough to give weight to important human values when making choices.
I think that with Debono’s appointment, Muscat pressed the self-destruct button of his ‘good’ public perception in credibility.
He still thinks that with this farcical move he can alienate the public while being credible.
Level-headed people don’t like these appointments to buffoons.
If we have another ‘false move’ in the coming budget, our economy will slide into recession.
Credibility does not mean that you say you want unity while you sow seeds of divisiveness.
Even if Muscat did not ask what Gonzi used to ask, we still judge our prime minister by his deeds and compare them with what he says and promised.
“Divide et impera” seems to be Joseph’s new motto.
Loonies running our country. John Bundy was right….pajjiz tal-Mickey Mouse. Now more than ever!
Helena Dalli should now put her considerably weight and very loud voice to good use and ensure that Franco Debono is removed immediately. Having said -VERY loudly, as I recall – that people unsuited to their posts will be removed, she should now keep her word.
X’ MISTHIJA F’ DAN IL-PAJJIZ. TRAJDITUR BHAL DAK! KIF JISSAPPORTU LIL FRANCO DEBONO META WIEHED MIL-MINISTRI TAL-MLP STESS QAL LI HU MA JRIDX BNIEDEM BHAL FRANCO BIEX IKUN FIL-PARTIT TIEGHU. PRACTISE WHAT YOU PREACH PLEASE.
Debono’s term will last one year and will be reviewed year by year, Bonnici said.
MT Sunday 24th March 2013
A good way for Joesph to control this crazy fool?
I can’t believe we are going to have another 5 years of this muppet in public life.
It’s our own fault, we didn’t catch on when Joseph Muscat talked about meritocracy. We should have realised that the “merit” in question was that of helping establish Muscat as PM.
A simple case of (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) “ghini u imbaghad nahseb fik”.
‘Wara li ghamel ghal muviment, kien jimerta pozizjoni xierqa mal gvern il-gdied ta’ Joseph, hi OK’
MERITOCRACY bil – malti tal-villagg T’imerita (one deserves).
The more I read, the more I feel like shouting where is TEAM PN. Now is the time when we need you most.
Justice reform to Giovanni Bonello, so guess who’s not a happy bunny.
How does it feel to remain an assistant, Franco?
Pen and notebook at the ready, now then, just listen and jot down. We can’t have ‘your’ proposals contradicting Giovanni’s good work can we?
Justice reform, not constitutional reform.
I think I am correct in recording that, back in 1999 when the Minister of Justice was Dr Austin Gatt, there was the appointment of Dr Giuseppe Mifsud Bonnici, retired Chief Justice, as Law Commissioner.
That person’s first task was related to the collation and editing of the Statute of laws to incorporate the amendments effected since the previous official edition (which could well have been issued during Dr Edgar Mizzi’s appointment – with one copy of the finalised and signed edition being deposited at the Law Courts and another at the Justice Ministry itself.
Birds of a feather – it is indeed shameful that this village idiot not only brought the previous government to its knees, but is now, only two weeks into the new regime, being amply rewarded for it by the new PM.
Iz-zejt tela’ f’wicc l-ilma. Fantastic change – more and more of Franco Debono.
A €24,000 anual paycheck from Dr Muscat to Dr Debono (the latter toppled the government) who both were disgusted by an honoraria of €500 a week, round €2000 a month! Wait a minute….lend me a calculator please….
Why scandalous? It’s called the spoil system, as practised from time immemorial despotic and dictatorial regimes the world over ;-) So now only dear Jes remains with outstretched hands.
Such a long piece, Daphne, and well written, but why the bother? Ask yourself what does Franco bring to the new administration, sit back, watch, and enjoy.
As to how this fits with what he did before the election, you might be right but what can you do about it but cringe at the widespread naivete that got us where we are.
Bottom line, I hope Muscat makes a lot more of this type of appointment, and he doesn’t seem to be about to disappoint me on that.
One wonders what The Times has to say about all this. It will probably print everything verbatim, without any political or obejctive analysis, so that it will not step on Kasco’s toes and embarrass Muscat.
Iz-zejt tiela f’wicc l-ilma Daphne. It is crystal clear now, more than ever, that the PL instigated Franco to do the back stabbing.
Look at the silver lining. From the widespread outpouring of disgust and revulsion at his appointment, he must now have been shorn of any delusion of ever being reintegrated within the PN.
He can now stop uploading his own anonymous comments, waxing lyrical about how Nationalist he is, and how many Nationalists are clamouring not only to have him back, but expect to have him appointed party leader.
If before this caper Franco had more probability of becoming Pope, than of ever again seeing the inside of the PN headquarters, since the latest turn of events, there is more chance of his cock laying an egg, than ever be regarded with anything but the disdain that he deserves.