Parliamentary soul searching

The chairman of the foreign affairs parliamentary committee takes a cue from Eurobarometer to ask a number of pertinent questions. It is not too difficult to come up with some of the answers - Parliament is not the only Maltese institution that requires reform. From today's Times:

Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi yesterday urged fellow MPs to discuss why, according to a Eurobarometer survey, the level of trust in the Maltese Parliament had fallen to 38 per cent from a high of 56 per cent in the Spring of 2003. Dr Azzopardi said in an adjournment speech in the House that this survey finding should serve as an eye-opener and an opportunity for soul searching. It was no comfort that confidence had also declined in the Parliaments of other countries.

Had the Maltese people become disillusioned with the way Parliament worked? Was it because the people were not yet truly informed about the workings of Parliament? Was it because the House needed to communicate its message better? Did the House need a Press and Communications Office? Was it because of the way Parliament was reported, or not reported, in the press? Was it because MPs were finding it difficult to reach out to their constituents while attending to ever-increasing parliamentary duties? Was it because Parliament was still considered as being a government department - the only Parliament in the EU which still lacked autonomy and flexibility?...