The Nationalist Party gave credit to itself and to civil society for pressuring the government into introducing changes to Malta’s road safety laws.
“Strong pressure from the Opposition and civil society has today pushed the Government to change course on Malta’s worrying road safety situation, following its admission of failure in this sector,” the party said.
The PN noted that only days after it declared that, once Parliament reconvenes, it would table a Private Members’ Bill to address this situation, the Government has now announced amendments along the same lines.
The PN welcomed the news that the Government will be putting forward legal changes “that reflect many of the proposals put forward by the Opposition just a few days ago, including alcohol and drug testing, effective prison sentences for those causing fatalities, harsher penalties, and licence suspensions.”
“Nevertheless, the PN cannot fail to note that after months of repeated appeals for such reforms – from the Opposition, doctors, experts, and a number of NGOs – the Government only reacted once the PN announced its intention to take the initiative itself through a Private Members’ Bill in Parliament,” the party said.
“This confirms that the Government is tired, has stopped showing initiative, and reacts only to what the Opposition says and does,” it added.
The PN thanked the experts and associations who have so far taken part in its consultation process, and invited all those who wish to contribute their ideas to come forward.
It said that work on its own draft law will continue and said that the party will also be closely monitoring what the Government will propose.
The statement was signed by PN MPs Darren Carabott, Mark Anthony Sammut, and Karol Aquilina who are the party’s Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Security and Reforms, Shadow Minister for Transport and Mobility, and Shadow Minister for Justice respectively.