AD Chairperson Prof Arnold Cassola said: “While there seems to be national consensus that the government of the day should no longer appoint members of the judiciary, there are still differences on the proposed method of appointment. Alternattiva Demokratika is totally against the PN proposal that is suggesting one representative of the government and the other of the opposition on the five person board nominating judges and magistrates. We do not accept having to subject these nominations to the vetting of the two parties, who already dominate the Broadcasting Authority and the Electoral Commission.”

“In this respect, Alternattiva Demokratika sticks to its electoral manifesto proposal that Judges and magistrates should no longer be appointed by the Government but by the President of the Republic. They should then undergo a parliamentary hearing and finally be subject to confirmation by a majority in Parliament. This would ensure checks and balances between the executive power (exercised in this case by the President of the Republic) and the legislature.”

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Le għall-involviment tal-partiti politiċi fil-ħatra tal-ġudikatura

Ic-Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, il-Professur Arnold Cassola qal: “Waqt li jidher li hemm qbil nazzjonali li l-gvern tal-ġurnata m’għandux jibq’ jaħtar il-membri tal-ġudikatura, għad hemm differenzi dwar il-metodu propost tal-ħatra. Alternattiva Demokratika hija totalment kontra l-proposta tal-PN li tgħid li għandu jkun hemm rappreżentant tal-gvern u ieħor tal-oppożizzjoni fuq l-Awtorita’ magħmula minn ħamsa min-nies li tinnomina lill-imħallfin u l-maġistrati. Ma naċċettawx li jkollna nissoġġettaw dawn in-nomini għall-iskrutinju taż-żewġ partiti, li ġa jiddominaw l-Awtorita’ tax-Xandir u l-Kummissjoni Elettorali.”

“Alternattiva Demokratika ttenni il-proposta tagħha fil-manifest elettorali li l-imħallfin u l-maġistrati m’għandhomx jibqgħu jinħatru mill-gvern iżda mill-President tar-Repubblika u soġġetti għal konferma mill-Parlament. Dan jiżgura sistema ta’ checks and balances bejn is-setgħa eżekuttiva (eżerċitata f’dan il-każ mill-President tar-Repubblika) u l-leġiżlatura.”