Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party Chairperson Michael Briguglio said today that, “in Parliament, AD will ensure that meritocracy is mainstreamed in the public sector. Top public posts such as judges and authority boards require parliamentary public scrutiny to ensure that those that are selected are so selected on the basis of merit.
“Those selected should be experienced and qualified, and their loyalty should be towards legislation and policies, and not towards the partisan whims of a Minister,” he said.
Carmel Cacopardo, AD Deputy Chairperson, said, “the judiciary should be nominated by the President subject to confirmation by Parliament whilst members of Boards of Public Authorities as well as the senior officials of such Authorities should be scrutinised by Parliament either directly or through its committees in order to ascertain that persons nominated can truely serve the country and not the political interests of the political party in government.
“Parliament should moreover be in a position to monitor the functions of Boards and Authorities on a continuous basis and should seek explanations from the Boards of Public Authorities and their Senior Executives on their method of operation. Parliament should ensure that whenever the operations of any public authority are scutinised by the Ombudsman his recommendations and their implementation should be discussed by Parliament.”
“Parliament,” said Carmel Cacopardo, “should reclaim back from government its role of overseeer of the governance of public institutions. Unfortunately over the years a two-party Parliament has siphoned off Parliament’s responsibilities and assigned them to a government made out of just one political party.”
“AD in Parliament,” concluded Cacopardo, “will ensure that parliament reclaims back its functions and holds government to account continuously.”