Prime Minister Robert Abela was found to be in breach of the ministerial code of ethics according to the latest probe published by the Standards Commissioner.
However, in an unprecedented move, Robert Abela refused to make a public apology, as asked for by the Commissioner, and instead insisted that it was his staff that should be accused, not him.
The report’s conclusions, discussed this evening by the Parliamentary Committee for Standards in Public Life, found that the prime minister breached the ministerial code on various counts by airing a propaganda video on social media, funded by taxpayers.
These include his failure to keep separate his role as prime minister and politician, being impartial in anything to do with public service, exercising diligence when it comes to the disbursement of public funds, and respecting the impartiality of public officers.
This was the first time that a sitting prime minister has been found in breach of the Ministerial code of ethics. Ironically, it is Robert Abela who as Prime Minister is tasked with monitoring the respect to the same code by all his Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries.
The probe
The latest investigations by the Standards Commissioner started last year following a call by independent MEP candidate Arnold Cassola.
His complaint focused on the prime minister using public funds for his personal propaganda by posting footage of himself touring government projects on social media, paid by taxpayers.
Screenshot of PM’s video found to be in breach of the Code of Ethics
The Standards Commissioner concluded that the prime minister breached the code as the €700 cost of the video, paid through public coffers, was just a personal propaganda exercise for Robert Abela.
The Commissioner asked Abela to make a public apology. Abela refused, insisting that he was not in breach of any ethics.
Instead, Abela blamed his personal staff for any breach of ethics.
In his letter to the Standards Commissioner the Prime Minister attempted to shift the blame onto his employees.
According to Abela, he had instructed them to follow the guidelines issued by the Office of the Commissioner, and he could not be blamed if they did not follow the rules
The staff Abela mentioned include his Head of Communications, Edward Montebello, and his team – all former reporters at the Labour Party’s newsrooms and all put on the government payroll by Abela himself as his persons of trust.
The Standards Commissioner told Abela that he couldn’t just blame his staff for whom he was responsible.
No wonder Robert Abela didn’t denounce other ministers who were in breach of ministerial code of ethics . How could he when he is doing worse than them.
The man, if one can call him that, is a disgrace to his position. The pits!
Eh is supperfja x taghmilek.
Sewwa qal ic ceo tal partit fuqek
Li tkun umli is sib izjed nies JAMIRAWK BOB
The PM was adamant that the aspiring whistleblower must pay for the full extent of his transgressions. Let us see if the same judicial standards apply to himself?
Our politicians are a bunch of clowns … no disrespect to clowns who deserve much more respect than the politicians (a despicable lot!)
Pretty much everyone understands the prime minister’s motives here:
In order to apologize, you need a backbone.
What a whiner who is responsible for 40 Slapp lawsuits against THE SHIFT NEWS, for vanishing 100rd of million and paints a picture of sobriety himself.
OMG!
The Bully refuses to atone for his political sins.
Next time round he might be kicked out by his close friends, like his predecessor.
Two simple rules to be followed by the Boss’s new secretary:
Rule No.1 – The Boss is always right.
Rule No.2 – If you have any doubts, simply refer to rule No.1.
Very easy to remember and very easy to follow – by any ‘creature’ of a self-inflated and haughty Boss.
Spineless disgusting little man.
Spoiled Brats do the same.
It is finer bullying practice.
These persons would turn on their parents anytime unless they buy them ice cream.
These boys need a good spanking on their bum until they squeal.