Malta cannot afford leaders who hide their wealth

Momentum insists that Malta can no longer tolerate a political culture where ministers shield their wealth from public scrutiny. Those entrusted with the highest offices must set the highest standards. Instead, the actions of Prime Minister Robert Abela and his Cabinet are taking the country backwards on transparency and accountability.

The Standards Commissioner has confirmed that Cabinet members, including the Prime Minister, failed to submit ministerial asset declarations for 2024. This breaks with long-established practice and replaces a detailed and public declaration system with a weaker parliamentary one that is subject to less scrutiny.

Arnold Cassola, Leader of Momentum, said, “This decision is not a technical reform. It has serious consequences. Under the MPs’ declaration system, ministers no longer declare their income, financial investments, or bank accounts held by their spouses and partners. These were previously mandatory disclosures for ministers. The result is a deliberate reduction in transparency at the very top of government.”

Momentum has long expressed its concern that ministerial asset declarations are no longer being published. While the Office of the Prime Minister claims that declarations are accessible through the Speaker, the Standards Commissioner has clearly stated that MPs’ declarations are not made public in the same way ministerial declarations were. This lack of public oversight is critical, especially in cases that have raised questions, such as the Minister Galdes’ penthouse purchase.

The Commissioner has also confirmed that ministers are technically in breach of their own Code of Ethics, which obliges them to submit annual declarations to the Cabinet Secretary. The fact that no action can be taken because the Commissioner lacks the power to investigate Cabinet decisions only highlights how accountability mechanisms are being hollowed out from within.

Momentum believes that reform should strengthen standards, not weaken them. Any genuine reform of the asset declaration system must increase transparency, require full disclosure of ministers’ and their partners’ assets, and guarantee automatic public access. Anything less is a retreat from democratic accountability.

This is precisely why we previously proposed the Public Integrity Act. We believe the current “honour system” for declaring assets is laughable. Our proposal mandates that the National Audit Office professionally audit every elected official’s asset statement within 90 days of taking office and every year thereafter. This Act would empower the Auditor General to access bank statements, property records, and tax data for verification. Crucially, any official who lies or hides assets would face criminal prosecution, ensuring real consequences for a breach of public trust.

Malta deserves leaders who lead by example, not leaders who change the rules to avoid scrutiny. Trust in public institutions depends on transparency, and transparency begins with those in power.

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