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MALTATODAY 14 June 2020

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2 maltatoday EXECUTIVE EDITOR Matthew Vella MANAGING EDITOR Saviour Balzan Letters to the Editor, MaltaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt Letters must be concise, no pen names accepted, include full name and address maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 JUNE 2020 Abela must act to restore Malta's reputation Editorial WITH each new hearing, the ongoing compilation of evidence against Yorgen Fenech – accused of masterminding Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder in 2017 – paints an increasingly harrowing, worry- ing picture of the state of Maltese politics. The tapes being played out in court strongly ce- ment the impression of a Police Force that 'serves and protects' the people in power; and which was definitely rudderless under the last Commissioner of Police. Even though the evidence itself is often hearsay, the gravity of the implications is enough to warrant a thorough investigation of all emerging allegations. These include the claim that former Police Com- missioner Lawrence Cutajar himself had leaked se- curity information to suspects, thus possibly endan- gering police officers' lives by leaking details of an impending arrest. Likewise, former deputy police chief Silvio Valletta and former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri have also been implicated in similar leaks. These allegations alone attest to the level of sus- picion and disrepute that now beleaguer the instru- ments of Maltese justice. But even this pales into insignificance compared to the repeated allegation that PL deputy leader Chris Cardona may have paid assassins to murder Caruana Galizia; or the many mentions of more people in the police force do- ing Keith Schembri's bidding; or of Keith Schem- bri himself, or the further implication of Cardona through the mention of his very close friends (in- cluding Toni l-Biglee: a former Special Assignment Group officer, and also canvasser to Cardona); as well as a host of other middlemen, and even the al- leged bombmakers. While all due legal process must be undergone be- fore establishing guilt in this case, it remains incon- ceivable that such damning accusations have not resulted in an immediate criminal investigation by the police. At minimum, Cardona should have been called in for renewed questioning; and given that he has also hinted at a possible 'frame-up' against him, his own claims – which also amount to a serious criminal offence – should be investigated separately. None of this seems to be happening, however. And this suggests that the institutional paralysis that gripped the country under the preceding adminis- tration, can still be felt today. Faced with all this, Prime Minister Robert Abela has to take serious note and pay attention to what is happening around him. He cannot sit pretty and wait for Cardona to resign of his own accord. Nor is it enough to say – as Abela did last Mon- day – that "Chris Cardona has at heart the Labour Party, and I trust he will take all necessary decisions not to harm the party". The reality is that Cardona's predicament is harming the Labour Party… indeed, it is harming the country as a whole. As both party leader and Prime Minister, Robert Abela has to be the one who takes the bull by the horns, and demand his resignation. But Abela also has another huge problem inside his party – and that is his predecessor Joseph Mus- cat, to whom many of the men implicated were also closely connected: most specifically Keith Schembri, around whom so much of the allegations revolve. Muscat's influence cannot be simply discarded as that of a 'mere backbencher': even because he can no longer be considered as such, having been taken on as an economic advisor by the present adminis- tration. Robert Abela may have promised a degree of 'con- tinuity' from the Muscat era, in his bid to become PL leader last January; but in the light of the ongo- ing court case, and all its sinister implications, there is a point at which 'continuity' must end. Both the Labour Party and the country need to turn a page, and move away from this sordid episode in our history. But Abela's dogged insistence on re- taining all links with the troubled past only makes that severance harder to achieve. Even worse, it contributes to the same perception of an institution that is geared towards protecting its own. This is unacceptable at the best of times. But to- day, the reality is that Malta is facing a serious crisis: a crisis which risks crippling the reputation of its Police Force, as well as eroding national trust in an entire political class. Its ramifications are being felt elsewhere, too. In Europe, Malta's 'bad faith' has cost the country any claims to occupy the moral high ground. As Prime Minister, Robert Abela has to take re- sponsibility for the current situation, and work to restore public faith in the justice system, as well as Malta's damaged international reputation. And this can only be achieved by expunging the Police Force of the elements that have thrown it into disrepute; and ensuring that this prosecution successfully investigates ALL the people involved… as well as keeping the public well informed of the status of investigations, with the same transparency and accountability that we should, after all, expect in a 21st century EU member state. 13 June 2010 Divorce issue causes MP to call it quits LABOUR MP Adrian Vassallo will not be contesting the next general elections on be- half of the Labour party, citing ideological differences. Vassallo, a general practitioner, has been the conservative bulwark of the PL for the past 15 years, but he tells MaltaToday in an interview that he will be calling it quits by the time of the next general election. Vassallo says he will not be voting against a private member's bill by Joseph Muscat to legislate in favour of divorce, "because [he] won't be in parliament by then." Muscat's bill to introduce divorce is one of his most important political pledges in his bid for government, but Vassallo says it still does not have the full support of the PL par- liamentary group. "I have no doubt that divorce will be an issue come the next election. And the Nationalist government will use it against Labour, and the Church will also pipe up. I don't think it's fair going for a parliament vote – it should be a referendum. After all, why should us 65 MPs decide for the rest of Malta? "With Joseph Muscat's system, this bill won't pass. If it had to take place today, it would not pass. There are some four or five MPs who wouldn't vote for it. I don't under- stand how he challenged the prime minister to a free vote on divorce. I think he should legislate through electoral mandate, rather than leaving it up to the MPs." Vassallo's frank admission is the first from an MP who appears comfortable with Mus- cat's ideological direction. Vassallo says he has been absenting himself from Labour party meetings for its parlia- mentary group for the past 10 years. "I tow the party line… I don't speak in parliament anymore, perhaps some PQ here and there. The ones which make the most noise." He says that he did not agree with him on divorce, even so told Joseph Muscat he could not support his line on the issue. "I told him that I could never agree with him on the stand he took on divorce. I mean, I do have the right to disagree with… How- ever, I did take offence at Muscat when he said that there was no space for people in the party who don't believe people should have a second chance." ... Quote of the Week "By boycotting the grilling, they are not even giving themselves a chance to ask questions. And that is basically abdicating their responsibility." Former MP Franco Debono on the Nationalist Party's boycott of the grilling of the new Commissioner of Police MaltaToday 10 years ago

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