Waqt konferenza stampa quddiem il-Parlament illum iċ-Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika Arnold Cassola qal: “Wara li nkixfu b’kumbinazzjoni eks-Ministri Nazzjonalisti b’kontijiet sigrieti tal-bank fl-Iżvizzera u oħrajn li ħadu rigali li mhhux suppost ħadu, u wara li qed naraw imġieba mill-anqas etika min-naħa ta’ Ministri Laburisti li jinsew nofs miljun taħt il-mitraħ, li jsir xiri ta’ bini fil-Belt bi ftehim dubjuż u bl-interventi ta’ staff privat tas-Segretarjat Parlamentati tal-Artijiet, li jiftħu kumpaniji l-Panama qisu tazza ilma, wieħed ma jiskantax li l-poplu Malti qed jiddisgusta ruħu bl-imġiba ta’ dawn il-politiċi. Qed jinħass in-nuqqas totali tal-etika u l-morali fil-politika Maltija u huwa għalhekk li Alternattiva Demokratika qieghda tinsisti li l-Ligi dwar l-istandrds fil-politka tiġi approvata immedjatament.”
“Rigward d-diskors arroganti ta’ Busuttil li jaħseb li għandu xi dritt jiddeċiedi għal ħaddieħor jattendix għal attivitajiet tal-PN jew le, Busuttil għandu biss d-dritt li jiddeciedi għalih u għall-partit tiegħu. M’għandu l-ebda dritt b’mod insolenti jiddeċiedi għal ħaddieħor u għal partiti u organizazzjonijiet oħrajn.”
“Rigward AD, u l-konsistenza tagħna nistieden lil kulħadd jara l-artikli, stqarrijiet, blogs u artikli fil-media soċjali u l-internet tagħna, mhux tal-lum biss imma anke tal-imgħoddi.”
“Il-mentalita’ li xxetlet tul is-snin hija ta’ involviment fil-politika ma dawk li jistgħu iroddulek xi ħaġa lura – ngħiduha kif inhi, mal-Partit Nazzjonalista u dan l-aħħar meta kienet ovvja min se jkun fil-gvern mal-Partit Laburista. Dawk li jgħinu u jiffinanzjawlhom il-kampanji jinstab mod kif jiġu ringrazzjati bi flus u pożizzjonijiet pubbliċi – l-affarijiet huma ovvji. Huwa ċar daqs il-kristall li s-sistema li kemm l-PL kif ukoll l-PN iridu jżommu u li jaqblilhom iżommu ta’ daqqa wieħed u daqqa l-ieħor, permezz ta’ sistema politika kontrollata kompletament bi ftehim bejniethom it-tnejn wasslet għal dan it-taħwid kollu. Wasslet għall-mentalita’ ta’ min jiflaħ iħawwel akkost ta’ kollox, a skapitu tal-bqija tan-nies.”
“Il-pass immedjat li għandu jittieħed huwa l-approvazzjoni immedjata tal-liġi dwar l-istandards fil-politika biex il-Kummissjarju tal-istandards ikun jista’ jagħrbel kull Ministru jew politiku li ma jġibx ruħu kif suppost, u kull Ministru u membru parlamentari li jaħbi l-flus tiegħu kemm fil- Panama kif ukoll fl-Iżvizzera.”
“Kieku l-liġi dwar l-istandards fil-ħajja pubblika ġiet approvata diġa inħatar Kummissarju għall-Istandards fil-Ħajja Pubblika li immedjatament, mingħajr bżonn ta’ xi permess mill-Prim Ministru, kien jibgħat għal Konrad Mizzi u Keith Schembri, in-negozjant li l-Prim Ministru għażel bħala l-kap tas-segretarjat tiegħu, u jitlobhom spjegazzjoni dettaljata dwar il-kumpanija tagħhom fil-Panama u jiftaħ investigazzjoni immedjatament. Hekk kien jiġri f’pajjiż b’demokrazija żviluppata.”
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PR05/03/2016 Panamagate and ethics in politics
During a press conference in front of Parliament AD Chairperson Arnold Cassola said: “The discovery by chance of former Nationalist Ministers’ secret Swiss bank accounts, others who accepted gifts which they should have refused, Labour Ministers who forget to half a million Euros hidden under their mattress, questionable agreements on the transfer of property in Valletta with the help of staff in the private secretariat of the Parliamentary Secretary for Lands, and opening of comapnies in Panama as if it is an entirely nornal thing to do, has obviously led to a sense of disgust with the behaviour of these politicians. This feeling is palpable, one ethical failure after another. That is why AD is insisting on theimmediate approval of the Standards in Public Life Bill.”
“Regarding Simon Busuttil, who arrogantly assumes that has a right to decide for others if they should attend PN activities or not, Busuttil can only decide for himself and his own party. He has no right to decide for others, for other parties and organizations. Simon Busuttil should stop insulting people and treating them as if they were little children who need him to make decisions on their behalf.”
“As regards our track record and consistency I invite everyone to have a look at articles, press releases, blogs and articles in our social media and on the internet, from recent ones to those over the years.”
“The attitude and mentality cultivated over the years is that it pays to engage in politics with those who can give you something back – let’s face it, with the PN and recently when it was obvious who will be in government with the Labour Party. Those who help and finance their campaigns are someway or another thanked through public funds. It is crystal clear that the political system that both the PL and the PN insist on keeping suits them well, because they know it is totally under their control. This system has led to this shambles. It has led to a system of dispensation of favours and clientelism instead of a transparent, modern and pluralist democracy.”
“The immediate step to be taken is the approval of the bill on standards in public life. Had the bill been approved into law the Commissioner for Standards would have been able to investigate any minister or politician who does not behave ethically, and investigate every minister and member of parliament who hides money in Panama and Switzerland.”
“If the law on standards in public life had been approved the appointed Commissioner for Standards in Public Life would have immediately, without requiring permission from the Prime Minister, sent for Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri, the businessman the Prime Minister chose as head of his secretariat, and requested a detailed explanation about their company in Panama. The Commissioner would have launched an investigation without delay. This is what would have happened in a country with a developed democracy. “