Archbishop Condemns Standards Commissioner's Ruling on MP Truthfulness as 'Affront to Human Decency' in Malta

Archbishop Scicluna Voices Strong Disapproval

Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta has publicly condemned a ruling by the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life, Joseph Azzopardi, which concluded that Members of Parliament (MPs) are not explicitly obligated to tell the truth under their existing code of ethics. Archbishop Scicluna took to social media to express his dismay, stating that it 'beggars belief that an MP may be untruthful with impunity since lying is not prohibited by their Code of Conduct. Such a positivistic reading of the law is an affront to human decency.' His comments, made on December 16, 2025, have ignited a significant debate across the island nation regarding the ethical responsibilities of elected officials.

The Standards Commissioner's Controversial Ruling

The controversial decision, published on December 15, 2025, arose from a complaint filed by WasteServ CEO Richard Bilocca against Nationalist Party (PN) MP Claudette Buttigieg. Bilocca accused Buttigieg of disseminating misleading information concerning a proposed thermal treatment facility (incinerator) at Magħtab during a public protest and parliamentary discussions. While Commissioner Azzopardi found that MP Buttigieg had 'intentionally or otherwise, presented a false picture' or 'gave a 'false impression'' of an environmental impact assessment related to the project, he ultimately ruled that her actions did not constitute an ethical breach. This conclusion was based on the observation that, unlike the code of ethics for ministers, the code for ordinary MPs does not contain a specific clause mandating honesty.

Calls for Ethical Reform and Accountability

The ruling has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, highlighting perceived deficiencies in Malta's ethical framework for public officials.

• The non-governmental organization Repubblika expressed serious concern, emphasizing the urgent need to update the MPs' Code of Ethics to include clear obligations for truthfulness, honesty in public communication, and accountability for misinformation.
• Environment Minister Miriam Dalli also weighed in, asserting that 'All MPs - the people's representatives - should be obliged to tell the truth' and that those who 'fabricate lies to make political arguments' should face political responsibility.
• Momentum, another civil society group, through its chairperson Arnold Cassola, described the ruling as 'absolutely baffling' and 'incomprehensible,' stressing that truth and honesty are fundamental aspects of natural law and justice.

It was also noted that former Standards Commissioner George Hyzler had, as far back as 2020, recommended updating the MPs' code of ethics to include an obligation to tell the truth, but these recommendations were never implemented. The current ruling underscores the ongoing debate about the standards of integrity expected from Malta's elected representatives.