Transport Minister Ian Borg blasphemed on television but it was “a slip of the tongue” and not a breach of ethics, the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life has concluded.
The minister was recorded swearing on the television programme Pjazza earlier this month. He denied the claims saying that what he had said was “ħa qalanqas... anqas anqas”.
In a report issued after he was asked to investigate the matter by independent candidate Arnold Cassola, Hyzler said it was clear that the minister had said the words Ħaqq A.. (God da..). But he said them hastily and without emphasis, suggesting that it was not premeditated but rather a likely slip of the tongue in the heat of the argument.
Attached files
Not everything that is in poor taste is a breach of ethics, the Commissioner noted in a report in which concluded that the matter need not be investigated further.
“While i understand that the people have the right to expect the highest correct behaviour from their representatives in Parliament, and while I do not wish to send a message that swearing or blasphemy is acceptable, I do not think that the case of a slip of the tongue merits an investigation and that he (the minister) should be made to answer to a serious accusation of breach of ethics,” Hyzler concluded.
The Standards Commissioner looked into the matter following a complaint filed by Arnold Cassola.