Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1188980
12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 1 DECEMBER 2019 NEWS 'I'm angry, betrayed… now justice must be done and seen to be done' LABOUR MEP Miriam Dalli has urged for a swift process to bring about justice on the Daph- ne Caruana Galizia assassina- tion and for Malta to protect its name. In a Facebook post, the MEP expressed herself as being "an- gry and betrayed" by the events that shook the nation, in which the Prime Minister's chief-of- staff Keith Schembri stood im- plicated along with main suspect Yorgen Fenech, in the murder of the journalist. "I know many people are an- gry and betrayed. People have spoken to me – both Labourites and those who feel disoriented. This is not a matter of Labour or Nationalist voters. This is a na- tional matter in its entirety." Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has not yet officially resigned despite having indicated his im- minent decision to step down. "Matters cannot be prolonged any more than is necessary," Dalli said. "The many questions out there must be answered. Jus- tice must be done and must be seen to be done with everyone. We must protect our country first and foremost because this is the Malta and Gozo where I want my children to grow up in." Dalli said these were difficult times for everyone. "I am con- vinced we can pick ourselves up again and focus on those val- ues which made us and guided us: social justice and the will to help the most vulnerable people. This is our duty to the thousands who believed in us and trusted us and who, without us, would have been destitute. As we faced up to difficult mo- ments in the past, I'm convinced we can stand back up again, bet- ter and more determined." Labour MEP on Facebook appeals for swift process towards justice but also hints at necessary changes inside Labour Party "The many questions out there must be answered. Justice must be done and must be seen to be done with everyone" LABOUR officials have insisted with MaltaToday that there is little appetite for a leader- ship battle over the Christmas period, and are highly critical of Joseph Muscat's intention to resign and stay on until 18 January. Deputy prime minister and health minister Chris Fearne has told his closest of aides that he was willing to take up the challenge of PM but would seek a vote of confidence – mean- ing, he would be just the sin- gle contestant. He has told his aides that he would be willing to serve as prime minister and leader of the party until the next general election. Others in the party have ar- gued that there should be an in- terim leader and prime minister until the party is in position to hold a leadership race. Names mentioned for an interim lead- er include education minister Evarist Bartolo and former deputy PM Louis Grech. MEP Miriam Dalli, long billed a leadership contender, said yesterday on Facbeook: "I am convinced we can pick our- selves up again and focus on those values which made us and guided us: social justice and the will to help the most vulnerable people." Tomorrow a parliamentary group meeting is being planned and the election of new party leader and prime minister is expected to be high on the agenda. Top party echelons said that ballot boxes have been ordered and preparations in time for a meeting for 18 January com- missioned. Nonetheless the same officials have said that they are aware that party mem- bers are still unaware of what lies ahead of them. Government ministers who spoke to MaltaToday have spo- ken of complete paralysis with many cancelling their appoint- ments. After last Thursday's cabinet meeting, the mood in the cabi- net is one of revulsion against Keith Schembri with ministers who cannot get themselves to believe that the Prime Minister had not taken action to rid him- self of Schembri. The biggest shock came about when the lead police investiga- tor Keith Arnaud displayed a letter that was given to Yorgen Fenech by his doctor, indicat- ing that he should lay the blame on Chris Cardona. The letter was reportedly written by Keith Schembri. Schembri has denied that he wrote the note. Speaking to MaltaToday, economy minister Chris Car- dona, who resigned as minister but claimed he was suspending himself pending all investiga- tions, confirmed that all Cabi- net ministers had phoned him to reach out to him after the Cabinet meeting. He said that he had no intention of sleeping on this attempt to slander him. According to party sources, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is expected to announce his resignation today after the ar- raignment yesterday of former Tumas group CEO Yorgen Fenech. Labour party with little appetite for a leadership battle Chris Cardona said that he had no intention of sleeping on the attempt to slander him, allegedly by the hand of Keith Schembri