Opposition leader Bernard Grech has tabled a mega-bill in parliament, made up of 12 draft laws, aimed at addressing recommendations by the Daphne Caruana Galizia public inquiry through constitutional changes. The Nationalist Party has dubbed the changes as “major” but what is being proposed? Times of Malta has reviewed the bill, which would have to get government backing to become law, and identified the most significant proposals made. 1. President given more powers One of the major changes that the proposed bill would enact sees the president being given extra powers. This includes assigning special duties to a magistrate as well as granting exemptions from criminal proceedings. In the latter, the president may issue a certificate in writing exempting any person from any criminal proceedings on condition that the person “gives evidence according to law of all the facts known to him relating to any corruption practice”. It would mean the president can make such a decision without having to consult the government. This is unlike what happens when a presidential pardon is granted, in which case the president usually acts on the advice of cabinet after its consultation with the...