Updated 0915 – Newspaper Review
Malta Today says that self-confessed middleman in the Caruana Galizia murder plot, Melvin Theuma, was informed of a pardon request made by Vincent Muscat, one of the three accused triggermen in the case.
The Sunday Times reports that paid-up members of the Nationalist Party are ramping up pressure on the Executive Council for the expulsion of the MPs who voted against Adrian Delia’s leadership of the Opposition.
The Independent on Sunday speaks to PN MPs opposing Adrian Delia’s leadership who believe that the party leader does not enjoy majority support in the General Council. They insisted, however, that they do not want to split the party.
Illum says that the Office of the President has gone ‘completely silent’ as the Opposition precipitated in an unprecedented constitutional crisis. The paper says that Adrian Delia is left hanging in the balance.
Il-Mument announces that the PN’s Executive Council will convene on Tuesday. PN Secretary General Francis Zammit Dimech confirmed that the meeting will discuss this week’s confidence vote in the parliamentary group.
Kullħadd says that the uncertain situation within the Nationalist Party could linger for the rest of Summer. The paper says that ‘rebel’ MPs might have to leave the party for a new Opposition Leader to be appointed in the House of Representatives.
It-Torċa quotes Finance Minister Edward Scicluna who welcomed the ‘stable’ rating by Fitch despite the economic pressures that came with the Covid-19. He said that the result is a sign of trust in Malta’s economy.
Malta Today says Adrian Delia is mulling disciplinary action against members of the PN parliamentary group who voted to oust him this week. One MP opposing Delia played down the threat of expulsion.
The Sunday Times says that PN MPs who lost trust in Adrian Delia’s leadership are prepared to take the matter before the Constitutional Court should President George Vella decide to retain the current Opposition Leader.
Kullħadd quotes a report by the European Commission which predicts that Malta will be the only EU country to fully recover from the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic by the end of 2021.
It-Torċa carries an interview with the CEO of the Authority for Standards in Social Care, Matthew Vella, who spoke about plans to reach out to victims of domestic abuse of unreported cases.
Il-Mument quotes the National Auditor’s Office report into the transfer of the state hospitals. The investigation finds ‘worrying coincidences’ in the process while it flags a series of anomalies and lack of due diligence.
It-Torċa quotes MEP Josianne Cutajar who said that governments and institutions should set an example to industry and introduce more flexibility in employment. Cutajar argued that better working conditions improve quality of life.
Morning briefing
President George Vella has confirmed yesterday that there were enough MPs to remove Adrian Delia as Opposition Leader, but a legal quagmire has arisen after new advice said that the current PN Leader could be re-appointed.
It is understood that Dr Vella met all 17 MPs who voted against Delia in a vote of confidence on Tuesday. The group has nominated Therese Comodini Cachia as new Opposition Leader.
While three constitutional experts made the case for a replacement of Delia, an unnamed expert giving advice to President Vella picked on Article 90(2) which says that the Leader of the Opposition should be the leader of the biggest party in the opposition group.
PN MP Chris Said questioned why this expert remained anonymous and targeted the Labour Party, saying it had every interest to retain Adrian Delia as Opposition Leader.
Fitch keeps Malta’s A+ rating, but forecasts jobless rate to double
Fitch Ratings has affirmed Malta’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating at ‘A+’ with a Stable Outlook.
On the positive side, the report noted Malta’s high income per capita, euro area membership and large net external creditor position, against its large banking sector, relatively high government contingent liabilities and vulnerability to shocks due to its small, open economy, and reliance on tourism.
However, int forecasts unemployment to double this year.
Malta outperforms the ‘A’ median on the World Bank governance indicators, although its scores on the ‘Voice and Accountability’ and ‘Control of Corruption’ subcomponents have been slipping in recent years.
An analysis of this report is available here.
CDE News
