Justice Minister Owen Bonnici is reported to have said in an interview that “in the previous legislature the government interpreted that provision in a way which allowed Judge Joseph Said Pullicino to become Ombudsman overnight” (The Sunday Times of Malta, February 21). Now apart from the fact that the former chief justice’s appointment as Ombudsman was twice approved unanimously by the House of Representatives, in 2005 and 2011, I am baffled as to which legal provision the minister is referring to.
There is no law which prevents a judge from being appointed to the office of Ombudsman. If there is, perhaps the minister can enlighten us on the matter.
Besides, the office of the Ombudsman – unlike that of a magistrate – is not considered a public office by the Constitution.
Consequently, even as a former chairman of the Broadcasting Authority, he was not precluded from being elected Ombudsman.