Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1196490
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 29 DECEMBER 2019 NEWS Christmas specials • Civil society unrest How civil society rocked the establishment in 2019 2019 ended up with civil society united in street demonstrations demanding the immediate res- ignation of Joseph Muscat in successive protests, which for the first time saw Graffitti ac- tivists also sharing the streets with Repubblika and Occupy justice. The protests, dictated by the fast pace of events and the gravity of the situation, also saw non-partisans marching uncomfortably with PN sup- porters and present and former party officials. Graffitti's participation in na- tional protests offered a safe space for non-partisans and socialists to voice their protest without being lost in a crowd in which they still do not feel so comfortable. On the other hand, their par- ticipation gave legitimacy to a protest movement perceived to be too aligned with a faction in the PN. Protesters, includ- ing former PN officials, found themselves in a crowd ap- plauding a speech by Graffitti's spokesperson Andre Callus, denouncing not just Muscat but also the subservience of the political establishment to the business class. This rare convergence did not raise any eyebrows because it was dictated by the grav- ity of the situation. But it also showed the two main expres- sions of Maltese civil society activism had matured over the past months, feeling safe and confident enough to share the same space without any fear of losing their identity. The persistence of the 'Daphne crowd' The perseverance of groups like Occupy Justice and Re- pubblika, who have been organ- ising monthly vigils for Daphne Caruana Galizia despite facing open hostility and insults, has given their members a strong sense of purpose. Rarely has such stamina been seen in Mal- tese political history. Surely the so-called Daphne crowd, especially Occupy Jus- tice, still exhibit signs of antip- athy towards anything which looks, feels and sounds like La- bour and against those who do not endorse their Manichean narrative of good and evil. The hagiography built around the figure of Daphne Caruana Galizia has alienated people who were very angry at her assassination but had a more nuanced view on her writings and more cautious on attribut- ing guilt for her murder. Often these people were shunned and lazily pigeon-holed as govern- ment apologists, and even un- fairly depicted as accomplices in the crimes attributed to gov- ernment. This bad blood and sectarian approach may well have weakened the movement in its bid to reach out beyond a restricted cohort of Daphne followers. So did the uncritical endorsement of anyone shoot- ing at Muscat, irrespective of credibility issues. Still one has to recognise that the arrest of Electrogas shareholder Yorgen Fenech as the alleged mastermind of the assassination, coupled with damning testimonies implicat- ing the PM's own former chief of staff Keith Schembri in ob- struction of justice, has vindi- cated their central claim that Caruana Galizia was a victim of a political assassination impli- cating parts of the state. But vindication may come at a big risk. It can make activists more intransigent and unfor- giving towards those who re- fused to jump to conclusions and gave government the ben- efit of the doubt simply because they did not have the facts in hand to prove otherwise. On their part, Repubblika has shown a greater political awareness of the risk of isola- tion, with blogger Manuel De- lia himself pleading to Graffitti activists to participate in the protests. Ironically it is Delia himself who best personifies the doubts amongst non-parti- sans, having shown no particu- lar interest in good governance when his party was in power when serving as an aide of Min- ister Austin Gatt. Yet his past political experience also makes him savvier than more intransi- gent groups. Repubblika has also been ef- fective in mobilising public opinion in other countries, and even creating a convergence with the influential anti-mafia movement in Italy. One of the most powerful speeches on the day of the second anniver- sary of Daphne's assassination was the one delivered by Le- oluca Orlando, the left-wing mayor of Palermo who directly addressed Daphne's killers "Daphne, you won. You won because we are here tonight. You are not alone… to her kill- ers, I say you made a very big mistake… you will be caught, you will be caught," he shouted to loud applause. Anti-Labour, anti-Delia or pro- reform? It remains to be seen whether these groups can now embrace a coherent agenda for institu- tional reforms or whether they will continue defining them- selves by their antagonism to- wards any Labour government. Muscat's exit from the scene also raises a dilemma for move- ments driven by antagonism towards him as the personifi- cation of evil. A new Labour leader may even make over- tures including symbolic ones, which may pose a dilemma for these groups, which thrived in a climate of confrontation. For ridiculous antics like the regular removal of flowers from the makeshift shrine to Caruana Galizia opposite the law courts also served to keep the activists resilient and ready to fight back. Yet any openness by Labour on reform could also repre- sent an opportunity for these groups to take the government to task on hard political issues like constitutional reforms. And failure to reach out to the Labour-voting segment of the population, which may not be hostile to the reforms they ad- vocate, has remained a big ob- stacle for these groups. The identification with the anti-Delia faction in the PN also raises the question on whether their main aim is to reclaim the PN or a real reform the republic's institutions. It remains to be seen whether the spirit of vindication will spur another bid to unseat De- lia especially in view of polls showing the PN making no inroads despite Muscat's hu- miliating fall from grace. But if activists take an active role in this bid, they may further alien- ate PN supporters who support Delia or feel that this issue was resolved after Delia survived an internal confidence vote in July. Manuel Delia addresses a national anti-corruption protest JAMES DEBONO From Graffitti's 'Enough is enough' environmental protest to the end-of-year protests calling for Muscat's resignation, civil society rediscovered the power of its voice out in the street. Does this herald a Maltese spring next year?