Appointment of chief justice ‘turned into theatre’: Alex Borg
People are laughing at us, PN leader says of political wrangling over appointment
Alex Borg on Sunday decried how the appointment of a new chief justice has been turned into "theatre".
“People are laughing at us,” the PN leader warned during a party activity in Mellieha.
Borg slammed prime minister Robert Abela for placing partisan interests and votes above the national interest when it came to agreeing on a name for the chief justice role.
Last week, Times of Malta revealed how judge Wenzu Mintoff claimed Abela feared losing face among hardcore labourites by agreeing to nominate someone suggested by the opposition for the role.
Mintoff was one of four names put forward by the PN as part of the weeks-long discussions between the government and the opposition about who should occupy the post.
“I could have given him 10 names. He was not interested in discussions, but in an imposition. He wanted his choice alone and wanted to score political points to avoid looking bad with the extremists in his party. He wanted his party to gain something from the appointment,” Borg said.
Anti-deadlock mechanism
Borg said his proposal on Saturday for the introduction of an anti-deadlock mechanism for the appointment was done in the national interest.
He said the mechanism will not be one that hands the appointment decision to the government.
Borg said following his proposal, the prime minister now wants to rush such a mechanism through parliament without first discussing it with the opposition.
The opposition leader said the anti-deadlock mechanism, which needs a two-thirds parliamentary majority, will not be supported by the PN without adequate discussions.
Borg acknowledged that his proposal for the mechanism may not be to everyone’s liking.
“I know not everyone agreed - but I have an obligation to Malta, not just the party. We cannot remain stuck in this impasse,” Borg said.
No mention of metro date in Vision2050
Borg mocked the government for failing to give clear timelines about the introduction of a mass transport system in its Vision2050 document.
He said, despite all the propaganda, the mention of a mass transport system in the document is simply listed as “to be announced”.
Borg said a PN government will set the ball rolling for a mass transportation system within its first 100 days in government.
He pledged that the first major line for a metro system will be completed within five years.
“We are a government in waiting. We are prepared to lead this country forward, in a serious way, not a partisan one,” Borg said.
‘Heartbreaking’ situation in Middle East
Borg also touched upon the “heartbreaking” situation in the Middle East.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader since 1989, was killed in the opening salvo of a massive US and Israeli attack that extended into a second day Sunday, as the two powers seek to topple the Islamic Republic.
Borg warned that European leaders have an enormous responsibility to act as catalysts for peace and ensure global stability.
He said the loss of innocent life in 2026 is not something to be expected.
“We are determined to respect our country’s neutrality, while also safeguarding international peace,” Borg said.