This afternoon, the Opposition intends to table a no-confidence motion in parliament against three government ministers in light of the findings from a public inquiry into the tragic death of Jean-Paul Sofia at a construction site.
The Nationalist Party (PN) is demanding the resignation of ministers Silvio Schembri, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, and Miriam Dalli. They are utilizing one of their designated opposition business days, which occur twice annually, to present this motion.
However, it’s improbable that the government will accept the PN’s motion outright; they have the option to propose amendments during the debate.
In July, during their last opposition day, the PN called for a public inquiry into Sofia’s death. The government, initially resistant to the idea, modified the motion to exclude mention of a public inquiry and instead advocated for a swift conclusion to the magisterial inquiry. The opposition then proposed a counter-amendment calling for a public inquiry, which was defeated, and the government’s motion was adopted.
A similar scenario may unfold this evening.
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Subsequently, the government reversed its stance on the public inquiry into Sofia’s death due to public pressure. The inquiry’s findings, published two weeks ago, attributed blame to the State for allowing legislative ambiguity to persist over the years, resulting in what it described as a “comedy of errors” in construction site legislation.
Several officials implicated in the inquiry have since resigned. However, the PN insists that political responsibility, not just administrative, must be assumed for the tragedy.
Zrinzo Azzopardi oversaw planning and construction at the time of the incident, while Dalli and Schembri were responsible for state agencies INDIS and Malta Enterprise, respectively. Both agencies were found to have serious shortcomings in their oversight of the project in 2019.
The PN motion also calls for monthly progress reports on implementing the inquiry’s recommendations, with MPs given the opportunity to question each report one week after it’s presented in parliament. Additionally, all findings from the inquiry should be implemented within six months, according to the motion.
Furthermore, the motion seeks a parliamentary apology to Jean Paul Sofia’s parents for rejecting a public inquiry into his death last July.
Architects and developers have pushed back against calls to implement the inquiry’s recommendations within six months, advocating for a more thorough and deliberative approach that respects the complexity of their sector and the expertise of its professionals.
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