Call for review on how to discipline politicians

Deputy Raluca Kovacs has put forward a proposition to review rules around the code of conduct for Jersey politicians

Rules on how politicians are disciplined need to be reviewed, a member of the States Assembly has said.

Deputy Raluca Kovacs has put forward a proposition to ask the Privileges and Procedures Committee (PPC) to look at how code of conduct breaches are treated by the States of Jersey.

It follows the recent 28-day suspension of deputy Philip Ozouf after he was fined for driving offences and failing to attend three parish hall enquiries.

The PPC, who upholds the conduct of States members, has lodged a separate proposal to suspend Ozouf after he pleaded guilty to breaking the island's immigration laws.

Kovacs' proposition has called for all standing orders - rules which govern how the States conducts its business - to be reviewed.

She asked PPC to present a report to the assembly no later than 31 December 2026, with any findings and recommendations from the review.

"Recent events have highlighted the importance of re-examining sanctions to ensure that the sanctions framework is fair, flexible and proportionate for minor and serious breaches," Kovacs added.

In September, PPC chairman deputy Steve Ahier told the assembly changes to some of the standing orders and the severity of punishments and sanctions for breaches were being considered.

Ahier told the BBC he and the committee were "ploughing on" with this work.

"It is something I've mentioned on a number of occasions about taking action to change standing orders," he said.

"We're progressing with this work and will continue to push forward changes."

The government has been approached for a comment.

Deputy Philip Ozouf is due to be sentenced at court for immigration offences in February

During a hearing at Jersey's Royal Court in October, Ozouf admitted four counts of assisting unlawful immigration and one count of attempting to assist unlawful immigration.

The court heard the former deputy chief minister arranged for people from Rwanda to work at his My Eco Laundry business when they did not have the right to do so.

States members are due to vote on the proposal to suspend Ozouf later in November.

He is due to be sentenced for the immigration offences in February.