AD Chairperson Prof Arnold Cassola has said that, "while there seems to be national consensus that the government of the day should no longer appoint members of the judiciary, there are still differences on the proposed method of appointment."

"Alternattiva Demokratika is totally against the PN proposal that is suggesting one representative of the government and the other of the opposition on the five person board nominating judges and magistrates. We do not accept having to subject these nominations to the vetting of the two parties, who already dominate the Broadcasting Authority and the Electoral Commission."

He added that, "in this respect, Alternattiva Demokratika sticks to its electoral manifesto proposal that Judges and magistrates should no longer be appointed by the Government but by the President of the Republic."

Prof Arnold Cassola concluded by saying, "they should then undergo a parliamentary hearing and finally be subject to confirmation by a majority in Parliament. This would ensure checks and balances between the executive power (exercised in this case by the President of the Republic) and the legislature."

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