Whether one's affiliation is red, blue, green or orange, politicians against corruption should declare that they will not accept illegal donations for themselves or for their parties nor will they have conflict of interests with respect to their political and professional work.
Politicians currently involved in such illegalities and conflicts of interest should resign. It is quite clear that some do not have the decency to do so. I hope that the electorate gives them a lesson.
In the run up to the general election, one can only accept more dirt to come out in the open. My hunch is that unless good-willed politicians unite against corruption, there will be a zero-sum game of divide and rule, to the ultimate benefit of the corrupt status quo.
Small parties have a vital role in being voices of reason to help clean up the political system. Good-willed politicians from major parties should unite behind the anti-corruption banner.
It's about time that Malta seriously considers state-party financing and full-time parliamentarians, rather than an amateur system running on dubious donations.
(Also appears in Malta Today, 6 March 2017)
