‘Bartolo’s dismissal is not enough, Prime Minister should explain the reasons,’ Repubblika says

NGO Repubblika said Tuesday that it is not enough for Prime Minister Robert Abela to have dismissed former Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo, and the least he should do is explain what the reasons for his dismissal were.

On Tuesday morning, Bartolo offered his resignation to Abela at Castille, with the Prime Minister telling journalists that he was also removed from the Labour Parliamentary Group, following fresh allegations surrounding his wife Amanda Muscat.

Bartolo’s resignation came following a Standards Commissioner report which found him and Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri guilty of an ethics breach, for granting a top-paid consultancy job to Muscat, which she did not do.

In reaction, Repubblika said that if Abela claims that Bartolo was not dismissed because of the Standards Commissioner’s findings, then he must explain the other reason.

“The government is obliged to be accountable to Parliament and the public. Instead, once again, we are left relying on journalists to uncover what Ministers are doing in secret,” the organisation said.

It said that upholding high standards of behaviour in public life is crucial, as everyone has “every right to expect that those entrusted with political power are people of values and loyalty to the people.”

Repubblika said that every time the Prime Minister defends his Ministers who “behave badly” by dismissing criticism as attacks by “extremists” of Repubblika, Abela further erodes standards of behaviour.

“It is no surprise that those who are shielded today might be caught doing something worse tomorrow,” the NGO said.

It continued that even if the hidden reason for Bartolo’s dismissal is more serious, the findings of the Standards Commissioner should have serious consequences, and called for Minister Camilleri to resign immediately.

The NGO said that Abela had stated that he will defend the individuals named in the Standards Commissioner’s report who were involved in the decision to grant Bartolo’s wife a salary for work she did not do, pending a police investigation.

“Abela’s excuse is that the police investigation was initiated because the “extremists” of Repubblika requested it. However, it is not extremism to ask the police to investigate a suspected crime,” the NGO said.

On the contrary, it said that this is the duty of every honest citizen.

“The Prime Minister’s obligation is to ensure that the law applies equally to everyone, not to act as the lawyer for his friends. That is what the rule of law means, not enabling the abuses of wrongdoers,” the NGO said.