Parliament Approves Amendment to Keep Auditor General in Post

Parliament has unanimously approved a constitutional amendment allowing Auditor General Charles Deguara and Deputy Auditor General Noel Camilleri to remain in their positions beyond their current terms if no successors are appointed in time [1].

Both officials were appointed on 30 March 2016 for an initial five-year term and were subsequently confirmed for a second five-year term. However, since both were approved on the same date, their terms end simultaneously – a scheduling issue the Constitution did not anticipate [1].

Under Malta's Constitution, both positions require approval from at least two-thirds of Parliament, and neither officeholder can serve more than two terms. The new amendment ensures continuity at the National Audit Office, with Deguara – who joined the public service in 1977 – postponing his retirement to maintain operations [1].

Government Accused of Making No Effort to Find Successors

Opposition leader Alex Borg criticised the government's apparent inaction, stating that authorities have not even convened a single meeting to discuss potential successors [1]. "We saw what happened with the chief justice, and we are now seeing it again," Borg remarked, drawing parallels to another stalled appointment process [1].

"It is useless to speak of the national interest only to cast it aside when it is needed," Borg said during the parliamentary debate, while assuring that the opposition would not block the amendment to prevent the National Audit Office's work from grinding to a halt [1].

Notably, no potential candidates' names have surfaced in media speculation – a stark contrast to the controversy surrounding the chief justice appointment, which forced Judge Mark Chetcuti to delay his retirement [1].

Path Forward Remains Unclear

While Noel Camilleri could technically be promoted to the top post – just as Deguara was elevated from deputy auditor general in 2016 – no formal process appears underway [1].

Justice Minister Jonathan Attard countered opposition claims, insisting the government had consulted on the matter, though he provided no details about any meetings or timelines. He rejected accusations of inaction, stating that the government would not accept "blackmail" from the opposition [1].

The minister did not explain why no appointments process has commenced, despite deadlines effectively established five to ten years ago [1].