Alfred Sant applauds Toni Abela’s political integrity, but not how his nomination was reviewed

Former Prime Minister and Maltese MEP Alfred Sant told the European Parliament in Brussels that while applauding Dr. Toni Abela’s political integrity, he could not applaud the way his nomination for the European Court of Auditors was reviewed. Dr. Sant, who was reacting to the report on the EU general budget on the European Court of Auditors, said that hearings before the European Parliament for nominees to the EU’s Court of Auditors are consultative. Nominees who receive a negative vote in committee or plenary, can still be appointed if the Council of Ministers so decides.
Dr. Sant said that Dr Toni Abela, who was nominated this year by the Maltese government, had promised that if turned down by the relevant Committee of the Parliament, he would withdraw. “So he did. I applaud Abela for his political integrity. I cannot applaud how his nomination was reviewed. It frequently happens, as with Abela, that occult elements organize campaigns to discredit nominees, alleging dishonourable or criminal behaviour. Nominees can defend themselves during face to face meetings with members of the committee and during the hearing.”
Dr. Sant said that in Abela’s case, the hearing was short. Allegations against him could not be fully clarified. Other issues too needed discussion. Abela was treated unfairly. If this Parliament wishes hearings on nominations to be meaningful, it should reconsider how to conduct them. When allegations of criminal or dishonourable behaviour arise, they should be considered separately by a jury d’honneur, aided by legal counsel, on the basis of facts. The hearing would then concentrate on the personal, professional and political abilities of the nominee, remarked the Maltese MEP.

Maltese Version – ALFRED SANT IFAĦĦAR L-INTEGRITA` POLITIKA TA’ TONI ABELA, IMMA MHUX L-ISKRUTINJU TAN-NOMINA TIEGĦU

L-Ewroparlamentari Malti Alfred Sant faħħar l-integrita` politika ta’ Dr Toni Abela, iżda qal li ma jistax jaqbel mal-iskrutinju li ngħatat in-nomina tiegħu għall-Qorti Ewropea tal-Awdituri. Dr Alfred Sant kien qed jirreaġixxi għar-rapport tal-baġit ġenerali tal-Unjoni Ewropea fuq il-Qorti Ewropea tal-Awdituri. Hu qal li s-smigħ quddiem il-Parlament Ewropew, ta’ dawk li jiġu nominati għal Qorti Ewropea tal-Awdituri, huwa ta’ natura konsultattiva. Il-persuni li kellhom nomina imma rċevew vot negattiv fil-kumitat jew fil-plenarja, xorta jistgħu jintgħażlu jekk il-Kunsill tal-Ministri jiddeċiedi favur tagħhom.
Dr Sant qal li Dr Toni Abela, li din is-sena kien nominat mill-Gvern Malti, wiegħed li jekk ma jkunx aċċettat mill-Kumitat tal-Parlament Ewropew, jirtira n-nomina tiegħu. Filfatt hekk għamel. “Infaħħar lil Dr Abela għall-integrita` politika tiegħu. Imma ma nistax infaħħar il-mod kif sar l-iskrutinju tiegħu. Ta’ sikwit jiġri, kif ġara fil-każ ta’ Dr Abela, li elementi anonimi jorganizzaw kampanja biex inaqqsu mill-valur tal-persuna nominata. Dan jagħmluh billi jallegaw aġir diżonorabbli jew kriminali. Dawk li jkollhom in-nomina jistgħu jiddefendu lilhom infushom f’laqgħat wiċċ imb wiċċ mal-membri tal-kumitat u waqt is-smigħ tagħhom.”
Dr Sant qal li fil-każ ta’ Dr Abela, is-smigħ kien qasir. “L-allegazzjonijiet kontra tiegħu ma setgħux ikunu kjarifikati mija fil-mija. Kien jeħtieġ ukoll aktar diskussjoni fuq kwistjonijiet oħra. Dr Abela ma kienx trattat b’mod ġust. Jekk dan il-Parlament jixtieq li s-smigħ tan-nomini jsir bis-sens, għandu jikkonsidra kif qed jitwettqu. Meta jitqajmu allegazzjonijiet ta’ aġir kriminali jew diżonorabbli, dawn għandhom ikunu kkonsidrati separatament minn ġurija onorarja, bl-għajnuna ta’ kunsill legali, fuq il-bażi tal-fatti. Is-smigħ imbagħad ikun jista’ jikkonċentra fuq il-ħiliet politiċi, professjonali u personali tal-persuna nominata,” temm jgħid Dr Sant.