Government’s nomination for chief justice does not pass after it fails to achieve a two-thirds parliamentary majority in Wednesday parliamentary vote • Robert Abela claims Alex Borg proposed Judge Consuelo Scerri Herrera for chief justice
Government’s nomination for chief justice did not pass after it failed to achieve a two-thirds parliamentary majority on Wednesday.
39 voted in favour, and 34 voted against, and so a two-thirds parliamentary majority was not achieved.
In a parliamentary discussion which descended into chaos, point of orders and political bickering from both sides of the House, Prime Minister Robert Abela, Opposition leader Alex Borg and Justice Minister Jonathan Attard addressed the debate.
While Borg was addressing the House, after raising a point of order, Abela claimed government’s nomination of Judge Consuelo Scerri Herrera was also the Opposition leader’s.
The Nationalist leader denied the claim, saying he would be willing to take an oath there and then.
When faced with Borg’s denial, Robert Abela questioned what had changed his mind, going on to claim Scerri Herrera was not approved “by the PN’s extremist faction”.
“You were facing a split among your parliamentary group,” Abela told Borg.
Abela also claimed horse trading requests by the Nationalist leader, with the PM claiming that Borg would only be open to Scerri Herrera if he accepted the Opposition’s nomination for Auditor General.
Speaking on Judge Scerri Herrera, the PM described her an experienced judge who has been efficient and diligent in her work.
He also described her as having excellent managerial qualities, as well as having the ability to bring together the practical and academic aspects of her work.
Abela also cited her age as a determining factor behind her being government’s choice, allowing her to serve in the role for a long number of years.
Abela says government prevent ‘constitutional crisis’
During his speech, the Opposition leader refuted claims by the PM and the Justice Minister that if the government did not act, it would have led to a constitutional crisis.
But Abela pointed towards Speaker Anglu Farrugia’s ruling that if no motion would be debated and voted upon before Thursday, the role of chief justice would be vacant. However, the constitution does make provisions for the appointment of an acting chief justice.
During his speech, Alex Borg insisted it was he who had insisted with the PM to start talks on a new chief justice, with Abela denying this, and claiming the opposite.
He also slammed the PM for making a political issue out of the role.
“The Chief Justice Role is not some political game. When you mention a judge without a 2/3 approval, you are damaging their reputation and the role itself,” Borg said. “I have full respect with all the judiciary, and the name you put forward. I had every opportunity to make a political show out of this process, but this country wants a different style of politics.”
Borg said he would be voting against the motion out of respect for all the judiciary.
When pressed by Alex Borg as to why the government was not in approval of the Opposition’s nominee, which as revealed by MaltaToday earlier today is Judge Edwina Grima, Abela said government would not be approving “Jason Azzopardi and Repubblika’s nominees.”
Justice Minister Jonathan Attard also addressed the House, voicing his approval of Scerri Herrera, as well as questioning the Opposition’s reasoning behind not accepting her nomination.
He also claimed some Opposition MPs messaged him personally saying they would have voted for her.
“The administration of justice is not a place to wage political battles,” he concluded.
Prime Minister Robert Abela on Tuesday afternoon tabled a motion in parliament proposing that Scerri Herrera be appointed in the role of chief justice. According to parliamentary procedure, a motion requires three day’s notice, and the Opposition refused to debate it on Tuesday.
On Wednesday ahead of the debate, Alex Borg insisted Tuesday’s decision by the Opposition was in line with parliamentary procedure.
He also said that the Opposition has accepted to the debate the motion on Wednesday in the national interest.
Before the Opposition leader, government Whip Naomi Cachia stressed the motion was not tabled capriciously, but out of national interest.
She said the House would be debating an important role, and had sent a letter to Opposition Whip Robert Cutajar laying out how crucial it was to debate the motion.
Earlier on Wednesday, President Myriam Spiteri Debono urged the government and Opposition to reach an agreement on the appointment of a new Chief Justice after setting a meeting with the two parties on Wednesday morning.
Justice Minister Jonathan Attard said on Wednesday morning that the president approached him for a meeting on the selection of a new chief justice, which is facing deadlock.
Opposition
Government’s nomination for chief justice did not pass after it failed to achieve a two-thirds parliamentary majority on Wednesday.
39 voted in favour, and 34 voted against, and so a two-thirds parliamentary majority was not achieved.
In a parliamentary discussion which descended into chaos, point of orders and political bickering from both sides of the House, Prime Minister Robert Abela, Opposition leader Alex Borg and Justice Minister Jonathan Attard addressed the debate.
While Borg was addressing the House, after raising a point of order, Abela claimed government’s nomination of Judge Consuelo Scerri Herrera was also the Opposition leader’s.
The Nationalist leader denied the claim, saying he would be willing to take an oath there and then.
When faced with Borg’s denial, Robert Abela questioned what had changed his mind, going on to claim Scerri Herrera was not approved “by the PN’s extremist faction”.
“You were facing a split among your parliamentary group,” Abela told Borg.
Abela also claimed horse trading requests by the Nationalist leader, with the PM claiming that Borg would only be open to Scerri Herrera if he accepted the Opposition’s nomination for Auditor General.
Speaking on Judge Scerri Herrera, the PM described her an experienced judge who has been efficient and diligent in her work.
He also described her as having excellent managerial qualities, as well as having the ability to bring together the practical and academic aspects of her work.
Abela also cited her age as a determining factor behind her being government’s choice, allowing her to serve in the role for a long number of years.
Abela says government prevent ‘constitutional crisis’
During his speech, the Opposition leader refuted claims by the PM and the Justice Minister that if the government did not act, it would have led to a constitutional crisis.
But Abela pointed towards Speaker Anglu Farrugia’s ruling that if no motion would be debated and voted upon before Thursday, the role of chief justice would be vacant. However, the constitution does make provisions for the appointment of an acting chief justice.
During his speech, Alex Borg insisted it was he who had insisted with the PM to start talks on a new chief justice, with Abela denying this, and claiming the opposite.
He also slammed the PM for making a political issue out of the role.
“The Chief Justice Role is not some political game. When you mention a judge without a 2/3 approval, you are damaging their reputation and the role itself,” Borg said. “I have full respect with all the judiciary, and the name you put forward. I had every opportunity to make a political show out of this process, but this country wants a different style of politics.”
Borg said he would be voting against the motion out of respect for all the judiciary.
When pressed by Alex Borg as to why the government was not in approval of the Opposition’s nominee, which as revealed by MaltaToday earlier today is Judge Edwina Grima, Abela said government would not be approving “Jason Azzopardi and Repubblika’s nominees.”
Justice Minister Jonathan Attard also addressed the House, voicing his approval of Scerri Herrera, as well as questioning the Opposition’s reasoning behind not accepting her nomination.
He also claimed some Opposition MPs messaged him personally saying they would have voted for her.
“The administration of justice is not a place to wage political battles,” he concluded.
Prime Minister Robert Abela on Tuesday afternoon tabled a motion in parliament proposing that Scerri Herrera be appointed in the role of chief justice. According to parliamentary procedure, a motion requires three day’s notice, and the Opposition refused to debate it on Tuesday.
On Wednesday ahead of the debate, Alex Borg insisted Tuesday’s decision by the Opposition was in line with parliamentary procedure.
He also said that the Opposition has accepted to the debate the motion on Wednesday in the national interest.
Before the Opposition leader, government Whip Naomi Cachia stressed the motion was not tabled capriciously, but out of national interest.
She said the House would be debating an important role, and had sent a letter to Opposition Whip Robert Cutajar laying out how crucial it was to debate the motion.
Earlier on Wednesday, President Myriam Spiteri Debono urged the government and Opposition to reach an agreement on the appointment of a new Chief Justice after setting a meeting with the two parties on Wednesday morning.
Justice Minister Jonathan Attard said on Wednesday morning that the president approached him for a meeting on the selection of a new chief justice, which is facing deadlock.
Opposition