PRESS RELEASE BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER: Ombudsman presents commemorative publication marking 30 years of the institution to the Speaker of the House of Representatives

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anġlu Farrugia, was presented with a commemorative publication issued by the Office of the Ombudsman to mark thirty years since the establishment of the institution.

The publication brings together the proceedings of the international conference Upholding Good Governance in Challenging Times – The Role of the Ombudsman, held in November 2025.

The Speaker thanked the Ombudsman, Joseph Zammit Mc Keon, for the initiative behind the publication — not only for the book itself, but also for the vision and determination that led to the organisation of the conference and ensured that its reflections were preserved in a lasting form. He described the publication as a meaningful contribution to public understanding and institutional memory, capturing principles and insights that should continue to guide democratic governance beyond the anniversary year.

Recalling his address at the 30th Anniversary Conference, the Speaker reiterated that the Office of the Ombudsman is far more than a mechanism for receiving complaints, serving instead as an institutional conscience whose loyalty must always remain with the people and with the truth. He underlined that, particularly in challenging times, the Ombudsman plays a vital role in safeguarding democracy and upholding accountability.

The Speaker further reaffirmed that good governance cannot endure without honesty and courage, and that truth must remain paramount — beyond institutions, narratives, or political preference.

Photos (SPK)