Watch: Fiery Abela Pledges Legal Reform To Protect Ministers From ‘Abusive’ Inquiries
A fiery Prime Minister pledged to update the law governing magisterial inquiries to make it harder for people to request investigations into government officials.
Abela spoke out after lawyer Jason Azzopardi requested two fresh magisterial inquiries – one into Economy Minister Silvio Schembri for his “unexplained wealth” and another into Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri over an alleged racket in the distribution of mooring spots at the Mġarr harbour.
“Clint, Silvio, and everyone who has been targeted by the politics of hatred because they’re carrying out public work, I tell you that we stand with you and we won’t leave you alone,” he told a rally. “This attack on you is an attack against all of us and we will defend you from this persecution. The red line has been completely crossed.”
Warning that the current law resembles the Inquisition and fails to provide basic legal safeguards to victims of abusive attacks, Abela pledged legal amendments to “stop the abuse once and for all”.
“I cannot bear seeing clearly innocent people dragged to court for years for nothing. It’s pointless for us to say Miskin when it’s all over and they gave been freed.After ten years of court battles, with all the costs, trauma, and humiliation they bring, and after being forced to resign from your public role, who will restore what you’ve lost?”
“Can we allow the good reputation of people of integrity who gave their life to the state to be destroyed by those who want power above all else? They now even want to send two mothers [Camilleri’s and Schembri’s wives], including a pregnant woman to prison, simply because they’re married to a minister. Shame on you, we will stop you. Our duty is to reform the law to end this pointless persecution of people.”