“Corruption – serious threat to fair society”

MP Franco Debono believes that the top issues dominating “the next electoral campaign will not be about jobs or education as some would like it to be. They are very important issues. But the crucial test will be that of accountability, transparency and good administration of public funds, which have been the main themes raised by (PN) dissenting backbenchers during the past four years.”

Debono goes on to say in his latest blog: “In the past years Malta has seen corruption cases of all sorts including judges. We have seen mass bribery cases in road and sea driving licenses. Malta has slipped down in the Perception of Corruption Index and the Group of States against Corruption has been chasing us for years to introduce a law on party funding, which I have drafted, but which they are leaving dormant out of spite. We have no Whistleblower Act and no decent Commission Against Corruption.

Debono stresses: “Corruption in Malta today is a grave and serious threat to a fair society. Not a week passes that the odour of corruption surrounds some government dealing, or some corporation or public entity. When and where the Police and Security Service do not investigate, it remains an odour. It is they who have the responsibility to investigate not the ordinary citizen.  Where serious investigations were carried out these led to arraignments and convictions. Corruption erodes the social fabric and meritocracy; it strikes at the heart of democracy and the state. 

“The issues of accountability and corruption will be the main themes of the next electoral campaign. It is not those who field the most loyal candidates who will win but whoever is credible on good governance, transparency and accountability and the fight against corruption.”