Legal Deja' Vu

I shall not venture to comment directly on the current court proceedings concerning those accused of the homicide of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Suffice to say that I believe the judiciary is under enough pressure as it is given the way things are developing in the situation. I have always had and still have full respect towards our judiciary and towards the Maltese Courts and because I hold the judiciary and the Maltese Courts in a light of respect I will not be the one to throw reckless commentary online or in any other forum for that matter.

What we are seeing in this case is not however altogether new territory for our courts. Indeed, this is a case deja’ vu where history is repeating itself. I’m sure that the lawyers and the members of the judiciary involved in the Daphne Caruana Galizia need no lectures from me so I will not even dare be presumptuous enough to lecture them. I write merely by way of legal and historical interest and not to lecture anyone or to pontificate to anyone about what should be done with regards to the case at hand.

In the 1980’s Malta’s political scene was alight with the famous ġlieda ta’ l-iskejjel tal-knisja. The case went from being a political battle between the church and the state to being a legal battle between the two. A problem developed when sitting judges where being asked to recuse themselves from hearing the ensuing legal case due to perceived conflicts of interest. For a time it seemed the case was destined to end in embarrassment for the Maltese Courts.

On October 22nd 1984, the Hon. Wallace Gulia, the Hon. Stephen Borg Cardona and the Hon. Joseph D Camilleri carved their names in legal history when in the case L-E.T. Rev.ma Monsinjur Arċisqof Ġuzzeppi Mercieca pro et noe vs L-Onorevoli Prim Ministru noe et, the court presided by them declared that,

Ikkunsidrat li jidher essenzjali li jkun assigurat li ssir ġustizzja skond il-liġi. Il-Qorti tippretendi li l-ġustizzja skond il-liġi ssir bir-rakkmu u r-raffinatezza kollha ukoll; iżda l-ordni tal-prijorita’ loġika fil-ħajja żgur li titlob li l-ewwel għandha tkun assigurata s-sostanza tal-ġustizzja u wara d-delikatezza tar-raffinetezza tagħha.

In the same case the court cited ‘Constitutional and Administrative Law – de Smith’, fourth edition, Street and Brazier who in page 570 had declared that

In very exceptional circumstances, all the adjuticators are affected by a disqualifying interest in which case they may have to sit as a matter of neccessity.

This 1984 case makes for very interesting reading given the circumstances we are currently witnessing.

A spent force!

To say that I am highly sceptical of Marlene Farrugia and her Partit Demokratiku would be an understatement. The way events unfolded following the General Election in June 2017 have more than amply demonstrated that joining forces with a Partit Demokratiku that was, and remains, largely dominated by Marlene Farrugia was a mistake. I have made no secret of my political disagreement with Farrugia and a number of decisions she has made since June 2017, so much so that I stated so point blank in an article published on The Times on August 22nd 2017.

I must thus highly welcome the decision taken tonight by the PN to formally dissolve the alliance with the Partit Demokratiku. In fairness it would be wrong to point fingers as to whether it was initially a good idea or not to join forces with the Partit Demokratiku. It would be easy to point fingers when one enjoys the benefit of hindsight; its an altogether different reality when one is deciding on a step never before tried and tested. Alas time has provided hindsight and the PN did the right move of taking correctionary measures.

Marlene Farrugia’s PD proved to be an unreliable ally; an unsteady ally, an ally that was never quite fully accepted by the electorate, an ally that was weakening PN rather than strengthening it. To cut ties was not an easy decision I’m sure. It took courage and a sense of leadership to come to such a decision. PN leader Adrian Delia must thus be applauded for having grabbed the bull by the horns and taking this difficult, but all be it, very much needed, decision.

PN needs to re-organise and focus on being a positive opposition. An opposition that that offers constructive criticism; an opposition that strives to make a difference even from the opposition benches; an opposition that is determined to be effective. It cannot possibly afford to waste any time with the childish games of Partit Demokratiku.

In reacting to the news of the dissolution of the Forza Nazzjonali PD issued a Press Release. Their Press Release goes a long way in proving just how irrelevant PD is fast becoming. PD stated that, “PD continues to welcome the disillusioned political refugees who have been failed by the parties forming the status quo and who, like the Partit Demokratiku and its MPs, do not recognise Adrian Delia as the Leader of the Opposition. The ideals of Forza Nazzjonali shall live on in PD, as they have since Delia's election”. No party can hope to have a very long future when its sole purpose seems to be that of rejecting the democratically elected leader of another political party.

Good move PN! Let’s focus and work for Malta. There is much work to be done and we can’t waste any more time on the antics of Farrugia and her party.
-->

Is-Soċjalisti u t-tax havens!

Fl-aħħar xhur u ġimgħat is-suġġett dwar l-hekk msejħa tax havens kien wieħed topiku ħafna fuq livell globali. Revelazzjonijiet bħal dawk tal-Panama Papers servew sabiex l-attenzjoni globali dahret fuq id-dinja tas-servizzi finanzjarji u l-iskemi differenti f’pajjiżi differenti fejn tidħol it-tassazzjoni.

L-ewwel u qabel kollox wieħed irid jibda billi jkun ċar fuq xiex qegħdin nitkellmu. Meta ngħidu l-industrija tas-servizzi finanzjarji u l-industrija tal-gaming qegħdin nitkellmu fuq tnejn mill-aktar niċċeċ importanti ta’ l-ekonomija Maltija. Niċċeċ li twieldu taħt gvern Nazzjonalista u llum kibru sabiex saru kollonna prinċipali ta’ l-ekonomija Maltija. Dawn il-pilastri ekonomiċi mhumiex biss setturi li joffru impjieg u dħul għal dawk li jaħdmu b’mod dirett fihom bħal accountants, awdituri, avukati, nies gradwati fl-IT u gradwati tal-kummerċ. Huma pilastri ekonomiċi li fuqhom hemm ekonomija sħiħa dipendenti fosthom kiri ta’ uffiċini, manteniment ta’ sistemi tal-IT, fornituri ta’ materjal ta’ stationary, fornituri ta’ servizz ta’ tindif ta’ uffiċini u anke ristoranti u lukandi li jospitaw business meetings u konferenzi. Għalhekk qegħdin nitkellmu fuq pilastri fundamentali għal maġġoranza tal-poplu.

Bħala pajjiż żgħir Malta għandha bosta żvantaġġi meta kkumparat ma’ pajjiżi kbar bħal Ġermanja, Spanja, l-Italja u Franza. Għalhekk pajjiżi żgħar bħal Malta, l-Olanda, l-Lussemburgu, l-Estonja u Ċipru joffru inċentivi ta’ taxxa sabiex jiġi investiment barrani fil-pajjiż. Dawn l-inċentivi jassiguraw sitwazzjoni fejn il-pajjiż ikollu dħul akbar ta’ taxxa permezz ta’ investiment miżjud u fl-istess waqt igawdi mill-effett tat-tkabbir ekonomiku li jġib tali investment grazzi għal żieda fl-impjiegi u l-nfieq fil-pajjiż. Fil-fatt studju riċenti tat-Tax Justice Network żvela li mingħajr dawn l-inċentivi Malta titlef kważi nofs l-industrija tas-servizzi finanzjarji.

Ikun min jargumenta jekk b’dawn l-inċentivi Malta hijiex tirrendi ruħha tax haven. Meta wieħed juża l-kelma tax haven ikun qiegħed jirreferi għal pajjiż fejn permezz ta’ segretezza assoluta jinżamm mistur min hu s-sid ta’ kumpanija bir-riżultat li tali sid jispiċċa ma’ jħallas ebda taxxa. F’Malta s-sidien ta’ kumpaniji Maltin jinstabu mniżżla fir-Reġistru tal-Kumpaniji, reġistru aċċessibli b’mod pubbliku fuq l-internet. Aktar min hekk, Malta għandha trattati ta’ koperazzjoni ma’ numru kbir ta’ pajjiżi u taderixxi mal-Common Reporting Standard tal-OECD fejn b’hekk Malta tosserva l-obbligu internazzjonali tagħha li tgħati informazzjoni lil pajjiżi barranin dwar investituri minn dawk il-pajjiżi li jkollhom investimenti f’Malta sabiex b’hekk ma’ jkunx possibli li dawn jevadu l-ħlas ta’ kull xorta ta’ taxxa.

Huwa fid-dawl ta’ dan kollu li huwa xokkanti li l-Partit tas-Soċjalisti Ewropej, li tiegħu l-Partit Laburista huwa membru, ressaq emenda quddiem il-Parlament Ewropew sabiex Malta tiġi mniżżla bħala tax haven. Li kieku Malta tiġi mniżżla bħala tax haven Malta jkollha problemi mill-aktar serji u l-industriji tal-gaming u s-servizzi finanzjarji jkunu mhedda serjament. Anke jekk fir-realta’ Malta mhijiex tax haven il-fatt li jkollha tali klassifikazzjoni huwa biżżejed biex pajjiżi barranin jibdew jitfaw lil Malta fi blacklist, mossa li tnixxef għal kollox l-investiment barrani.

Il-Partit Popolari Ewropew, li tiegħu l-Partit Nazzjonalista huwa membru, diġa ħabbar pubblikament li ser jopponi l-emenda tas-Soċjalisti. Il-PPE għalhekk ser ikun qiegħed jiddefendi l-interess ta’ Malta; l-interess nazzjonali. Minn naħa l-oħra is-Soċjalisti ser ikunu qegħdin jheddu b’mod dirett l-interess nazzjonali ta’ pajjiżna.

Għalkemm l-MEP’s Laburisti ħabbru li ma’ kienux ser jivvotaw mas-Soċjalisti xejn ma’ jħassar il-fatt li l-istess MEP’s Laburisti ma’ kellhomx l-abilita’ li jikkonvinċu lil sħabhom is-Soċjalisti. Mhux l-istess jista’ jingħad fuq David Casa, Roberta Metsola u Francis Zammit Dimech li bil-ħidma tagħhom assiguraw l-PPE ser ikun unit favur l-interess tagħna lkoll.

Dan l-artiklu nkiteb it-Tlieta 12 ta' Diċembru 2017 u ċioe' qabel il-vot fil-Parlament Ewropew. L-istess artiklu ġie pubblikat fil-ħarġa tan-Nazzjon tal-Ħamis 14 ta' Diċembru 2017. 

The United States of Europe

“Let us create a new and better Europe! I want a new constitutional treaty to establish the United States of Europe. A Europe that is no threat to its member states, but a beneficial addition.

A convention shall draft this treaty in close cooperation with the civil society and the people. Its results will then be submitted to all member states. Any state that won’t ratify this treaty will automatically leave the EU.”

German Socialist leader and former European Parliament President Martin Schulz yesterday posted the above comment on his official Facebook page. Given a number of current issues currently dominating both the local and international scene I don’t expect this post by Mr. Schulz to gain much public attention. On a global level issues such as the status of Jerusalem and Brexit negotiations will definitely continue to dominate whilst on a local level, issues such as the ongoing investigations and legal proceedings regarding the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia will continue to dominate the scene. That having been said Mr. Schulz’s post deserves some thinking. 

The proposal to have a United States of Europe is neither new nor innovative. Suffice to say that the subject has been debated from well before the European Union itself ever came to fruition. On that front thus Mr. Schulz’s proposal for a United States of Europe can only best be described as a regurgitation of an age old debate which tends to resurface from time to time. 

The idea is also not too innovative in terms of the convention drafting a treaty and submitting the said treaty to all member states. In the history of the European Union 2004 is remembered as the year when the spotlight went on the ‘Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe’. The treaty, commonly referred to as the European Constitution, had been met with skepticism in a number of member states from day one. Ultimately the process ground to a halt following referenda in France and Holland where the No vote emerged victorious. 

The propose the same idea, all be it in an even sharper form, after just ten years would normally perhaps be described as risky. To do so in a context where Euro skepticism is sadly on the rise and where the European Union is having to deal with its first member state exit can only be described as being out of touch with reality. To further propose a take it or leave it approach where those not in agreement are simply chucked out the club is nothing short of absolute arrogance. 

Mr. Schulz’s proposal shall only serve to add fuel to the fire in terms of the fertile ground being used by Euro-skeptics to drum up all sorts of horror stories about the EU. Rather than looking to forge ahead with the idea of changing what is essentially a union of sovereign national states into a federal state, the more prudent approach would be to first see to it that the citizens of the said national states are convinced that we should be in a union to begin with. 

The biggest threat to European integration is the sharp rise of Euro-skepticism. Euro-skepticism will not be defeated by acting in the manner it so colorfully criticizes; the bulldozer approach where the bureaucrat holds little regard for the general public opinion. Euro-skepticism will be defeated by taking notes with regards to any constructive criticism it has to offer, limited as it may be, and building on that constructive criticism to demonstrate that European integration is in the best interest of every European. 

Mr. Schulz’s proposal thus at this stage is at best premature and ill-thought and at worst undemocratic, arrogant and completely out of touch with reality.

Jien lest li ngħin...u int?

Nhar il-Ħadd li ġej il-Partit Nazzjonalista ser ikun qiegħed jorganizza maratona ta’ ġbir ta’ fondi. Bla dubju ta’ xejn ikun hemm min jistaqsi għaliex għandu jgħin lil Partit Nazzjonalista; għaliex għandu jgħin partit għal ħames snin li ġejjin ċertament ser ikun fl-oppożizzjoni; għaliex għandu jgħin partit li ġa la darba qiegħed fl-oppożizzjoni mhuwiex fl-aħjar posizzjoni biex jagħmel xita ta’ wegħdiet personali lil dak u lill-ieħor. Ikun hemm mbgħad min jilmenta li din mhijiex l-ewwel maratona ta’ ġbir tal-Partit Nazzjonalista; li matul din is-sena l-Partit Nazzjonalista diġa ħabbat il-bieb drabi oħra jitlob il-ġenerosita’ tal-pubbliku. 

Ir-realta’ hi li biex tħaddem partit trid il-fondi. Struttura organizzattiva kbira bħal Partit Nazzjonalista tirrikjedi numru ta’ ħaddiema full time u part time, fondi sabiex jinżammu strutturi fiżiċi bħal per eżempju manutenzjoni tad-Dar Ċentrali u manutenzjoni tal-Każini u fondi sabiex il-media tal-Partit Nazzjonalista tibqa’ aġġornata ma’ l-iżviluppi teknoloġiċi sabiex il-messaġġ tal-Partit Nazzjonalista jkun jista’ jasal b’mod effettiv. Partit politiku kbir jeħtieġ investiment kontinwu; aktar u aktar meta fi ħdanu jinkludi mhux biss l-element politiku ta’ partit imma anke l-element ta’ kull pjattaforma ta’ media u presenza fiżika fil-maġġoranza assoluta tal-bliet u rħula Maltin u Għawdxin. 

F’pajjiż demokratiku huwa importanti li f’kull ħin u mument ikun hemm gvern u oppożizzjoni li t-tnejn ikunu elettoralment b’saħħithom u f’posizzjoni li jaqdu r-rwol rispettiv tagħhom. Pajjiż bi gvern b’oppożizzjoni dgħajfa wisq aktarx ikun pajjiż fejn id-demokrazija tibda titnaqqar; fejn il-gvern jibda jħossu komdu bl-aktar mod flagranti jibqa’ għaddej minn fuq kullħadd daqs li kieku xejn m’hu xejn u mingħajr ma’ tali gvern jiffaċja ebda konsegwenza. Ċertament li kull min hu ta’ rieda tajba ma’ jridx li Malta jkollha dan ix-xenarju. Ċertament li kull min hu ta’ rieda tajba jrid li f’Malta l-poplu jkollu l-għażla demokratika bejn forzi politiċi differenti. Sabiex verament ikun hemm din l-għażla libera’ u demokratika huwa essenzjali li l-Partit Nazzjonalista jkun fi stat li jista’ joffri alternattiva kreddibli u jaqdi l-funzjoni tiegħu. Għal dan kollu hemm biss il-qalb tal-volontiera; il-ħidma bla waqfien ta’ l-attivisti iżda wkoll il-fondi. 

Il-Malti jgħid li bla flus la tgħannaq u l’anqas tbus. Ma’ jfissirx li l-flus huma kollox; ma’ jfissirx li l-qalb ġeneruża tal-volontiera u l-enerġija u l-entużjażmu ta’ l-attivisti ma’ tfisser xejn. Anzi, bil-flus biss, ikun kollox ta’ xejn għaliex ir-ruħ u l-pedament ta’ partit politiku hija l-qalb tal-volontiera u l-entużjażmu ta’ l-attivisti. Ir-realta’ iżda li li l-istil modern tal-politika fuq livell Ewropew huwa still li jinvolvi nfieq konsiderevoli. 

Mingħajr dubju ta’ xejn nhar il-Ħadd li ġej ser ikunu ħafna dawk li ser ikunu ġenerużi mal-Partit Nazzjonalista. Ser ikunu ħafna dawk li bl-għotja tagħhom, żgħira kemm hi żgħira, ser jgħinu sabiex f’pajjiżna jkollna oppożizzjoni li tista’ taqdi d-dmir u d-dover tagħha bl-aħjar mod possibli. Ser ikunu ħafna dawk li ser jgħatu sinjal ta’ appoġġ lil Partit Nazzjonalista; issa b’Kap ġdid Adrian Delia u bi tmexxija ġdida. 

-->