Malta’s rule of law debated in Strasbourg, Labor defends slow pace of reform
MEPs in Strasbourg yesterday opened the debate on a ninth resolution on the rule of law in Malta, following the fifth anniversary of the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia by a car bomb outside her home in Bidnija.
With interventions from all Maltese MEPs and cross-party representations from members of the Civil Liberties Committee who are part of the Rule of Law Delegation to Malta, the debate looked at the reforms underway in Malta following the assassination by Caruana Galizia.
European Commissioner Didier Reynders gave a detailed overview of the shortcomings of Maltese politics, specifically calling for the closure of Malta’s citizenship-by-investment scheme, media reforms and other changes needed to make court proceedings more efficient. .
A succinct introduction by Dutch Socialist MEP Thijs Reuten honored the legacy of Caruana Galizia, saying her murder exposed problems with the Maltese rule of law.
“When someone who holds those in power to account is literally under fire, it is not only the journalist who is threatened: we are all threatened and democracy is in danger…
“[Caruana Galizia] paid for it with his life. In order to keep its legacy alive, the wounds of Maltese democracy must heal. We won’t get her back, but bringing all accomplices to her death to justice is the bare minimum and remains a top priority.
Reuten acknowledged that the Maltese government was working constructively on important reforms. “While we understand that change doesn’t happen overnight, we always aim higher. Therefore, on several reforms, from the judiciary to citizenship schemes, as the Commissioner mentioned, we still need to make progress.”
Nationalist MEP David Casa (EPP) paid tribute to the investigative work of Caruana Galizia, for having revealed corruption at the highest level without fear of the political apparatus mobilized by Castile to “ridicule and isolate her”.
“It’s easy to forget that Daphne was a proud Maltese woman: her story of courage reminds us of the risks faced by journalists when governments drag their feet and ignore the evidence of corruption and criminality revealed by journalism. This is when the risk to the safety of journalists is greatest.
Casa said the imprisonment of the Degiorgio brothers for 40 years for carrying out the execution of Caruana Galizia on October 16, 2017 was just a small step for justice. “On the crime for which Daphne was killed, we are still behind in her prosecution: it is now up to politicians and officials to play their part and ensure that the masterminds of this crime are apprehended.
“Daphne deserved better – the Maltese deserve better. We’ll be pushing for justice, because yes, Daphne was right, and yes, she’s a Maltese heroine.
Labor MEP Cyrus Engerer, who called the killing a “terrorist attack”, reminded the plenary that although he attended the vigil on the night of the murder in Sliema, he realized that his partner and he were “unwelcome there…due to partisan political reasons. I didn’t agree with everything Daphne wrote, but what happened needs to be fought by all of us away from partisan bickering, which leaves us all alienated.
Engerer said that while Malta was undergoing a major process of judicial reforms, the country would still need time to recover from the aftermath of the assassination. “What we need is to heal as a nation the divisions rooted in the past. Our challenge is to fight hatred, classism, the belief that our opinions are superior to others… to honor the memory of Daphne, we must open minds, hearts and fight partisan hatred, and we must do it together.
Dutch MEP Sophia in ‘t Veld (Renew), who leads the LIBE delegation on the rule of law in Malta, said journalists were key to keeping governments honest. “They are the oxygen of democracy. Journalists must be able to do their job safely. I greet you, Daphne Caruana Galizia. We will continue to work tirelessly for justice and the rule of law.
“And oh yeah, a little PS message to Mr Joseph Muscat: I believe you need your lawyers for more pressing matters than writing letters to MPs, telling them what they can and cannot say .”
Labor MEPs mount the defense
Labor MEP Alfred Sant was more pointed in his criticism of the debate, however, calling the resolution an echo of “messages from right-wing splinter groups who have bashed the Maltese government on all fronts and without thinking”.
Sant said the Maltese government’s reforms “might seem slow”, but they were part of a democratic and open process of give and take, in some cases putting Malta ahead of other member states when it comes to judicial systems, constitutional and policeman.
“The process of justice and reform will continue to the end. However, this debate and the resolution attached to it will, I fear, add no value to this process, and they do not reflect well the objectivity and common sense of this House.”
Labor MEP Alex Agius Saliba slammed ‘the ninth resolution and debate on recycled facts about Malta’s rule’, and denounced the plenary’s ‘partisan interest’ in hiding aspects of Malta’s reform process in its institutions.
“With all due respect to the memory of Daphne Caruana Galizia, I await debates and resolutions in this parliament on the four murders of four other journalists that took place after the murder of Cauana Galizia – murders whose prosecutions have not even begun or even concluded yet.