Stop handing out diplomatic posts as political rewards, Momentum says
Cassola's party suggest introduction of a Foreign Service Act
Momentum has urged a stop to handing out diplomatic posts as political rewards and called for the introduction of a Foreign Service Act to professionalise Malta's diplomatic corps.
Instead of rewarding experience and expertise built over the years, diplomatic posts continue to be given out as favours, Arnold Cassola's party said.
This tactic demotivates career diplomats, drives a brain drain from the foreign service, and undermines Malta's ability to protect its citizens and interests abroad.
Momentum in parliament will introduce a Foreign Service Act that establishes a professional and predictable career path for diplomats, with entry through competitive examination, clear qualification requirements, structured rotation between postings, and promotion based on merit and performance.
"Malta deserves to be represented by its best, not by whoever is owed a favour," it said.
Momentum also called for constitutional neutrality, exercising Malta's duty to speak on human rights violations.
The constitution itself demands that Malta “actively” pursue peace, security and social progress among all nations. Momentum in parliament will speak clearly on human rights violations, war crimes, and the suffering of civilians wherever they occur, without compromising our neutrality.
Neutrality means we take no side in military conflicts, not to abandon our moral compass, Momentum said.
It warned that attempts to weaken the Human Rights Convention are often packaged as responses to migration pressure and represent a fundamental threat to the European rights framework.
The same convention underpins protections for trafficking victims, asylum seekers, and ordinary citizens whose rights are violated by their own governments. Malta must not become complicit in undermining the protections that the convention was built to guarantee.
“Malta’s neutrality is one of our greatest assets, but only if we use it honestly. A neutral country that stays silent when civilians are bombed or when human rights conventions are watered down is not neutral but complicit,” said Cassola, who is also a candidate on the 9th and 10th districts.
“We want a foreign policy built on professional diplomats who earn their posts, and on the courage to say what needs to be said, when it needs to be said.”