France, June 2017: A regional prosecutor launched a preliminary investigation into nepotism allegations made against Richard Ferrand, a key aide to French President Emmanuel Macron and a cabinet minister. Ferrand had received a discount on renting office space from his partner’s real estate company while he was the head of a health insurance fund and used business contacts for personal gain, hired a deputy’s partner as his assistant in parliament and channelled the health insurance fund’s legal contracts to a former partner. He subsequently resigned.
South Korea, September 2010: South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan resigned following accusations of nepotism involving his daughter’s employment. He resigned to accept responsibility for all the commotion caused by the ministry employing his daughter on a full-time basis. President Lee Myung-bak accepted his resignation.
Turkey, April 2021: President Erdogan axed Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan after it was confirmed that her ministry bought goods from a company owned by her family. Pekcan’s family-owned company sold disinfectants and other medical supplies to the ministry in a clear case of conflict of interest and nepotism.
Germany, May 2023: Patrick Graichen, who served as deputy minister for energy, had to resign when it emerged he had facilitated the recruitment of a friend, who was best man at his wedding, as head of the German Energy Agency without initially making their relationship known. There had also been a violation of internal compliance rules regarding government funding for a national climate protection project in which Graichen’s sister was involved.
Malta, November 2024: Standards Commissioner finds ministers Clayton Bartolo and Clint Camilleri abused public funds in the employment of Amanda Muscat, Bartolo’s wife, as ministry policy consultant. His office’s investigation found that she never penned a report or gave written advice, was not even qualified for the job, and ultimately received a €70,000 contract.
Prime Minister Robert Abela publicly stated that Bartolo’s apology was a sufficient action to pay for this latest scandal, meaning that no resignations or sackings were to be expected.
The above examples bring out the stark differences between good and bad governance, proper administration and maladministration, together with the meaning of ministerial and political responsibility.
Nepotism comes from the Italian for nephew, ‘nipote’, and originated with mediaeval popes who elevated their nephews to the cardinalate. Why, you may ask, did popes care so much about their nephews? Well, at least sometimes because they were ‘nephews’, that is, illegitimate sons. A grubby practice, or, rather, a grand, sacrilegious form of corruption.
There’s nothing wrong with nepotism in business, as long as it serves the needs of the owners. In politics, it’s a bit more dicey. While putting a relative in a role might ultimately be useful to the public, as it was when Joseph Kennedy Sr. told his son, JFK, to install RFK as Attorney General, that image is something society doesn’t take well to today due to years of abuse. JFK would never have been able to do that today.
Nepotism in governance poses significant threats to democratic integrity and institutional effectiveness.
It refers to the preferential treatment of family members or close associates in political appointments or administrative roles. This practice can severely undermine democratic principles by compromising merit-based selection processes, eroding public trust and reinforcing systemic inequalities. While this latest nepotism scandal in Malta provides a contemporary example of nepotism’s potential impact, the issue extends beyond this case, reflecting broader challenges faced by our democracy.
Nepotism undermines meritocracy by favouring individuals based on familial connections rather than their qualifications or abilities. This erodes the principle that public positions should be awarded based on merit, leading to the appointment of individuals who may lack the necessary skills and experience. This and the previous Labour administration have all too often allowed elected officials to reward political supporters with government positions, often regardless of their qualifications.
When political positions are awarded based on nepotism, public trust in government institutions is significantly eroded. Citizens who perceive favouritism and corruption may become disillusioned with the political system, leading to decreased civic engagement and scepticism about the legitimacy of democratic processes.
The Labour administration has faced criticism for perpetuating nepotistic practices, which have contributed to widespread public dissatisfaction and accusations of corruption.
Nepotism reinforces systemic inequality by concentrating power and resources among a privileged few, often excluding marginalised groups from opportunities for advancement. This perpetuates social and economic disparities, undermining democratic ideals of equality and fairness.
Any government afflicted by nepotism often experiences weakened institutional integrity. The appointment of relatives can lead to conflicts of interest, reduced accountability, and compromised decision-making processes, hindering effective governance and policy implementation. It is no exaggeration to state that it can lead to the country’s economic collapse and political instability.
Malta’s latest nepotism cases were more prevalent when public-sector wages were set above an optimal level and recruitment decisions were placed in the hands of individuals rather than, say, hiring committees.
Nepotism is bad for the economy, but most people underestimate it.
Will we as ordinary citizens just remain silent? Especially since our voices are only meaningful and valued every five years, that is a long time to remain silent about the corrupt practices of collusion and nepotism that occur.
If the practices of collusion and nepotism persist, it will hinder our country’s efforts to progress and create opportunities for competent and skilled individuals in government.
Nepotism has become the stuff of legend. It just seems like a place where people get paid to sit in a building, if at all.
Dr Mark Said is a lawyer