Should Malta rethink politicians’ salaries to attract better talent? Herald Bonnici raises debate

Executive Director and Strategic Advisor Herald Bonnici has called for an evidence-based discussion on whether Malta’s political remuneration framework is capable of attracting experienced professionals into public service.

In a LinkedIn post, Mr Bonnici questioned whether the country’s current system encourages a sufficiently broad pool of capable individuals to enter politics, particularly those with backgrounds in business, finance, technology and other specialised sectors.

His comments followed remarks by Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the Forbes Global CEO Conference, where the latter discussed the country’s approach to ministerial salaries.

Mr Bonnici noted that Singapore aims to offer competitive remuneration without necessarily matching private sector salaries, recognising that entering politics should not involve such a significant financial sacrifice that it discourages capable individuals from pursuing public service.

He argued that Malta should consider whether its own remuneration framework presents similar barriers.

“Does our system attract the widest possible pool of capable people into public life, including those with significant experience in business, finance, technology and other specialist fields?” he asked.

Mr Bonnici identified several factors that should inform the discussion, including attracting talent, recognising professional expertise, ensuring accountability and delivering value for money.

He maintained that public service should remain a credible career option for capable professionals, regardless of their financial circumstances.

At the same time, he stressed that competitive remuneration must be accompanied by transparency, strong ethical standards and accountability.

The discussion, he clarified, should not be interpreted simply as a call for higher political salaries.

“This is not an argument for higher salaries in a vacuum. Nor is it about comparing politicians’ pay with that of the private sector in isolation,” he wrote.

Instead, Mr Bonnici argued that Malta should assess whether its approach to political remuneration helps attract and retain individuals with the experience required to address increasingly complex national challenges.

“The real question is not simply what political leadership costs us, but what it takes to attract the right people to lead,” he concluded.