Increase NAO resources, drop OPM recruitment procedures, Momentum proposes
Political party wants to restore merit and transparency to public appointments and civil service recruitment
Momentum on Saturday published three proposals it believes would restore merit and transparency to public appointments and civil service recruitment.
In a statement, it said in Malta, whoever knew still mattered more than what one knew.
Senior public appointments are often decided behind closed doors; recruitment for the civil service has been centralised around the Prime Minister’s Office, and interview processes leave no paper trail, the political party said.
"The result is a public sector where loyalty to a party is rewarded over competence. Citizens pay the price through weaker institutions and poorer public services. Momentum will change this."
“The people who lead Malta’s institutions should be chosen because they are the best person for the job. Not because they are loyal to a political party or a government minister," said Carmel Asciak, Momentum’s candidate for the 12th and 13th districts.
Momentum's proposals:
Two-thirds parliamentary majority for key public appointments: Standards Commissioner, the Police Commissioner and the Chief Electoral Commissioner should not be decided by one person or one party. A two-thirds parliamentary majority ensures that only qualified, widely accepted candidates get these crucial roles, and that no single political interest can install a loyalist to do its bidding.
Significantly increase the resources of the National Audit Office: the NAO needs much more funding and staff to properly oversee government spending. Without adequate resources, the NAO cannot effectively monitor how taxpayer money is being used across all departments, agencies and authorities.
Remove centralised recruitment procedures from the Prime Minister’s Office: Most public service recruitment has been centralised around the OPM, with serious suspicions of political interference in hiring decisions. This is not how a modern, professional civil service should operate. Momentum in Parliament will remove these centralised procedures and restore proper merit-based hiring free from political meddling. Public servants should serve the public, not the party in power.