Disagreement on Ombudsman

The Office of the Ombudsman has been vacant for five weeks and with the two parties wrangling over the right candidate, it could remain in limbo for several weeks.

The two party committees set up to select the right candidate are expected to meet in the coming days to discuss a potential replacement for Joe Sammut who resigned on October 1 after serving his maximum two terms.

During his monthly press conference yesterday, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi did not give any indication of an immediate settlement of the issue, saying only that several names have been put forward for consideration for the post. A two-thirds majority of the House of Representatives is needed for the nomination to be approved.

There seems, however, to be a common denominator in Chief Justice Emeritus Joseph Said Pullicino, who was until recently chairman of the Broadcasting Authority. Dr Gonzi would not hint whether Dr Said Pullicino could be lined up as the next Ombudsman.

Although Labour leader Alfred Sant hinted last week that his party would oppose his nomination, MLP sources said that this was not the case.

"It's the way the government is going about the selection process that the Labour Party is objecting to," the sources said.

Another individual, currently serving in the Ombudsman's Office, is among the names being touted.

The choice is in the hands of two committees - the government board made up of Dr Tonio Borg, Dr Louis Galea and Mario Galea, MP, and the Opposition's made up of MPs Dr Charles Mangion, Dr Adrian Vassallo and Joe Mizzi.

A Department of Information statement last July had reported President Eddie Fenech Adami's concern that the Ombudsman's Office would not be able to function if Mr Sammut resigned.

Although new cases are still being filed at the Ombudsman's Office in Valletta, no report is being published, prompting frustration among the public, according to sources. The law does not permit the appointment of a temporary Ombudsman.

There is also a debate over the next chairman of the Broadcasting Authority. Sources told The Sunday Times that the Labour Party had recommended Carmel Degabriele, the chief electoral commissioner, to fill the post, but the Nationalists were reluctant to accept his nomination.

Dr Gonzi said that while it was he who would ultimately decide on the BA post, he would prefer to have the Opposition's agreement on the matter.