The Nationalist Party has called for MPs to be given the option of  working full time in light of a report by the Standards Commissioner condemning the practice of backbenchers being granted government jobs.

“The PN takes note of certain observations made by the Standards Commissioner, as well as the Venice Commission before it, and urges the government to take the necessary decisions to safeguard the independence of the Maltese Parliament,” PN leader Adrian Delia said in a statement.

“The time has come for MPs to be given the possibility of working full time and to be provided with all the necessary assistance that will allow them to focus professionally on their parliamentary work and to stay away from any conflict of interest.”

Standards Commissioner George Hyzler has warned that the practice of granting government jobs to backbenchers is “fundamentally wrong” as it undermines the independence of MPs, but said it could well be linked to the low salaries of parliamentarians.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat today called for a public debate on whether MPs’ salaries should increase, describing the topic as a “very delicate” one.

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