Government supports publication of MPs' assets
While ministers' declarations are published every year, MPs' declarations are not
Justice Minister Jonathan Attard has expressed his support for a proposal to publish asset declarations filed by MPs.
Speaking during a meeting of parliament’s standards committee, Attard agreed with a suggestion by Speaker Anglu Farrugia that the declarations should be published.
While ministers' declarations are published every year, MPs' declarations are not. MPs' declarations are made available to anyone who requests to see them; however, no one can make copies of the documents.
Attard is spearheading legislative changes that will eliminate asset declarations by ministers in favour of a declaration by all members of parliament.
The Opposition has claimed the prime minister is seeking to shut down scrutiny of himself and his cabinet.
One of the criticisms of the changes is that while declarations by ministers were published in parliament, those made by MPs were not.
Attard said he will be putting forward an amendment to ensure that the new declarations by MPs are tabled in parliament and made public.
Opposition MP Mark Anthony Sammut also backed the proposal.
Where the PN and PL disagree
Sammut, however, said the Opposition disagreed with asset declarations by ministers being abolished.
He said ministers serve in the executive branch of government, while MPs are part of the legislative branch, therefore separate declarations should be filed.
Sammut said the government should “fix” its proposal to remove the obligation by MPs to declare properties owned by their spouses.
According to the current code of ethics, MPs must declare properties jointly owned with their spouses. This requirement has been dropped in the new proposals, which merely obliges MPs to declare their own properties.
The move goes in the opposite direction of proposals by the OECD, which said mechanisms to track the financial assets and interests of not only public officials but also their close relatives and household members can help prevent concealment of assets under the names of family members, spouses or other individuals.
Three-year period
Other aspects of financial and employment reporting have, however, been strengthened.
The proposed code obliges MPs to declare their occupation or profession over the past three years.
This three-year retrospective period is new, as the previous declaration only captured an MP's employment or profession over the previous year.
MPs are also explicitly obliged to declare income generated from professional work and employment, and they must also name their employer.
The draft code of ethics also spells out the obligation to declare virtual currencies and intangible assets such as patents, trademarks, copyrights and brands.
Other proposals by the OECD were ignored, including a suggestion to oblige MPs to list luxury and tangible assets like high-value antiques and cars, which are known to be used to hide profits from money laundering or corruption.