Malta’s Energy Minister Found Guilty of Partisan Statements

Malta’s Energy Minister Miriam Dalli has been found guilty of using the Department of Information (DOI) to issue partisan statements, a breach of ethical guidelines for ministers. The Standards Commissioner, Joseph Azzopardi, ruled that Dalli’s response to criticism from the Nationalist Party (PN) MPs contained partisan content, violating the principle of impartiality of the public service. The complaint, filed by PN MP Karol Aquilina, highlighted the use of public funds for partisan purposes. Dalli defended her actions, stating that the press release aimed to provide factual information and counter incorrect information. However, the Commissioner found that the statement went beyond providing factual information and included partisan attacks against the opposition. This finding echoes previous cases involving Ministers Silvio Schembri and Konrad Mizzi, who were also found guilty of similar ethical breaches. In response to the ruling, Dalli apologized for the partisan tone of the press release and pledged to ensure future communications from her ministry would adhere to ethical guidelines.