Effectively here the PM has three issues on his hands, all demanding the resignation of three different people, at least.

Those would be:

1. Minister Mallia

2. The Police Commissioner

and possibly his Communications Officer Kurt Farrugia.

They all stepped into territory not belonging to them and tainted proceedings. They are all culpable in their respective ways.

Sheenan is too calm and paced as if he is being controlled or is on sedatives during the process.

He doesn’t have any of the pitch and tone of a frantic call nor sound like a person on Red Bull.

There is nothing that excuses Joseph Muscat, short of a heart attack at the moment of learning of the shooting, which we know he didn’t have.

The distinction is not always hard-edged.

Constitutionally, the Executive power is vested in the President of the Republic though, in practice, it is exercised by the government (executive) since the President can do almost nothing without the advice of the Prime Minister.

The police form part of the executive and hence is not really a distinct power per se. Nevertheless, it is expected that it should exercise its police functions autonomously – that is, without interference from other executive authorities.

In my opinion, the Commissioner is subordinate to both the minister responsible for the police and to the Prime Minister but he is independent and autonomous from them in the exercise of his police functions.

The head of the police force (the commissioner of police) does not enjoy the kind of security of tenure like, say, the Attorney General or a judge so as to better guarantee his/her independence but this should not diminish his independence or fetter his autonomy.

The Police Act (Cap. 164) lays down that:

“There shall be a Commissioner of Police who shall be appointed by the Prime Minister and shall have the command, direction, management and superintendence of the Force.”

According to the strict exercise of the chain of command, a police constable reports, in principle, to his immediate superior, usually a sergeant and not directly to the Commissioner of Police unless instructed by the Commissioner to report to him directly.

My thoughts exactly.

We’d speak French.

Yes it’s about time politicos keep away from this mega charade.

Ever heard of Corleone, Mafia, Camorra, Mafia clans, the Grecos, the Inzerillos, the Gambinos, the Corleonesi?

They are not so far away from us. In fact, they inhabit the land just north of us. We would have been something similar, perhaps their betters at their own game.