Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1262267
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 JUNE 2020 COMMENT What are we skinning? Chris Cardona's resignation as deputy leader for Labour Party affairs as a result of his name repeatedly cropping up in Melvin Theuma's court testimony in relation to the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Why are we skinning it? Because following the resignation of former police commissioner Lawrence Cutajar, Cardona stepping down from his last remaining political post constitutes the most recent structural blow to government and the Labour Party, as directly or indirectly meted out by Theuma's court testimony. So you're saying it was the right thing for him to do? Well, let's look at how it all happened. When asked about whether or not Cardona should resign from his post in the wake of the allegations, Prime Minister Robert Abela initially said that he trusts Cardona to do what is best for the Labour Party... Wishful thinking, surely... Yes, that's a common perception. But it also hints at just how overwhelming the fallout of the assassination remains for all involved. How do you mean? It was huge to begin with, wasn't it? Yes, but the fact that Abela hesitated on his decision – before effectively asking Cardona to resign, insofar as we can tell – betrays his inherent discomfort. A little bit like this failed back-and-forth on the Captain Morgan boat crisis. A little bit, yeah. It feels as though we're witnessing either the making or the unmaking of a true prime minister, in real-time. In the sense that he'll either learn from these mistakes, or politically perish in the attempt? Yes, quite. But back to Cardona. What does his resignation accomplish? Well, it certainly takes one headache away from Abela, whose chirpy demeanour in the wake of an actually ongoing pandemic would have eventually chipped away if he wasn't given some respite. But this won't make the case go away. No, but it'll clear the Labour Party political sphere being in some way still involved in the ongoing investigations. Until the next potential round of incendiary names pops up. Yes, Cardona did make memorable use of the word 'popping' in recent comments to the press, so you never know... Do say: "While making all necessary caveats which pertain to an ongoing investigation and inquiry, Chris Cardona's resignation is an inevitable consequence of the fallout of the ongoing investigation into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Let's just hope that what emerges in the wake of it is an actual pathway towards the truth, and not just another excuse of the authorities to play the 'our institutions are working' card." Don't say: "I loved Cardona's use of 'popping' in the context of all this. How long until we actually get some legit 'poppers' in this whole story?" EDITORIAL Full closure on Electrogas, Panama and 17 Black PAGE 2 RAPHAEL VASSALLO A trap laid out for Delia OPINION 10 The Skinny Malta, shrunk down JOSANNE CASSAR Say what you mean Robert, and mean what you say! PAGE 6 MICHAEL FALZON Konrad Mizzi: eventful minister PAGE 7 Rashford and Black Lives Matter PAGES 12-13 Whose interest does it serve, to cast doubt on the only testimony that might actually bring closure to the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder case? No. 40 • Cardona Bows Out of Political Life For Good