In light of recent revelations regarding the conduct of Ministers Clayton Bartolo and Clint Camilleri, aditus foundation on Saturday urgently called for their resignation and accountability to restore public trust in the integrity of the Maltese government.
An investigation by Malta’s Commissioner for Standards in Public Life has confirmed that both Bartolo and Camilleri abused their power and violated ministerial ethics by securing a lucrative public position for Bartolo’s wife, Amanda Muscat.
According to disclosed information, Muscat, who originally served as Bartolo’s personal secretary, was elevated to a high-paying consultancy role in Camilleri’s Gozo Ministry. This transfer, found to be a “fictitious” arrangement, allowed Muscat to continue working within Bartolo’s Tourism Ministry while drawing a €68,000 salary as one of Camilleri’s persons of trust.
“This is not simply a case of favouritism but a severe abuse of power that strikes at the heart of good governance and the rule of law. No public official should use their office to bestow unjustified privileges upon close associates or family members at the expense of public trust and resources,” aditus director Neil Falzon said.
Minister Bartolo’s justification of Muscat’s position – that “in life, it is not just about diplomas or degrees” and that “experience alone” qualified her for the role – is a vile affront to all hard-working people who contribute to the nation’s development.
The Minister fails to address the fundamental issue: his wife was unqualified for the role and did not perform the duties expected of her position.
We are further shocked by the Prime Minister’s laissez-faire attitude. With his approach, the Prime Minister chose to stand by nepotism instead of defending Malta’s interests and good governance, the NGO said.
“The Maltese people deserve leaders who are committed to transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct, by allowing these ministers to remain in office, the government sends a worrying message that public office can be used for private gain without consequences,” Falzon said.
This behaviour is not only unethical but also undermines the standards expected of those in public office. aditus emphasises that public office is a privilege to be exercised in service of the people, not as a means of securing benefits for personal connections.
The continued presence of Ministers Bartolo and Camilleri in the Government erodes confidence in Malta’s institutions and in the commitment of this administration to uphold transparency and accountability, the statement said,
Their resignations are necessary to restore public trust and to reaffirm that those who hold positions of power must be held to the highest standards of conduct.
“We therefore urge Prime Minister Abela and the Maltese Parliament to take decisive action in upholding ethics in public administration. As an NGO committed to human rights and the rule of law, we stand with the people of Malta in demanding accountability, transparency, and a government that operates free of favouritism and corruption.”
