Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1367395
15 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 2 MAY 2021 NEWS the Lands Authority and the Planning Authority. While some key players sitting on decision-making boards have been reassigned to new roles, no attempt was ever made to investigate their responsibili- ties. And one cannot ignore the elephant in the room: that the major protagonists of Labour's flagship energy project are em- broiled in a suspicious web of secret companies and that the businessman who fronted the venture is in the dock for mas- terminding an assassination. Moreover it remains unclear to what extent the attempted cover-up of Daphne Caruana Galizia's assassination is being actively investigated. So far the arrest of a former high-rank- ing police officer implicated in leaking information on the Daphne Caruana Galizia is the only encouraging sign on this front. But Keith Schembri's mobile remains lost and Jo- seph Muscat still has to answer questions on when and how he learned about Yorgen Fenech's involvement in the murder and when and how he learned about Fenech's own dealings with Schembri. Continuity or change? One may argue that the buck stops with the police and the courts and the government's job is that of ascertaining that the institutions perform their work in full serenity. But that ignores that the attempt at state capture was anchored in a political economy which may have been shaken but remains resilient. The fear is that with an elec- tion looming on the horizon, the temptation to look the oth- er way and to defend Muscat's legacy will grow. Ironically by doing so Abela may end up af- firming the collective respon- sibility of the Labour Party for what happened in the past dec- ade, which is a pity considering the various positive social re- forms carried out by this gov- ernment. And while Abela will proba- bly comfortably win the elec- tion, this time round his hand would be stronger if elected on anti-corruption platform rath- er than as the continuity can- didate as he presented himself when elected Labour leader in January 2020. MATTHEW VELLA THE heads of Malta's European Parliament delegations have gone head-to-head after La- bour MEP Alfred Sant abstained on a resolu- tion condemning Russian human rights vio- lations and the jailing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Former Labour Prime Minister Alfred Sant abstained on a European Parliament resolu- tion on Russia, calling on the EU and Russia to be less confrontational and more objective. Sant said the Parliament's position as de- scribed in the resolution contained rhetoric that can only lead to further escalation of hostile sentiments between the two sides. "Clearly, the end point to such escalation could be war, for which the blame would not be attached to only one side." The resolution is one of a series of Euro- pean Parliament resolutions dealing with Russia and mainly addresses the recent de- ployment of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border, the imprisonment of Russian activist Alexei Navalny, and alleged illegal activities by Russian military intelligence service on the territory of the Czech Republic which caused explosions of an ammunition depot back in 2014. Notwithstanding his abstention, Alfred Sant condemned without any reservations the treatment being given across the line to opposition leader Alexei Navalny. "As a full member of the Council of Europe, Russia is failing to honour its commitment under the Council's charter. However, the resolution repeats and amplifies accusations that are part of a long exchange game be- tween Russia and its critics. The objectivity and transparency of these claims are doubt- ful," Alfred Sant said. Sant said the EU's relationship with Rus- sia should be based on a mutual respect of international law, human rights standards and fundamental freedoms, with the aim of strengthening peace and security in the re- gion. Sant's abstention was enough for National- ist head of delegation and European Parlia- ment vice-president Roberta Metsola to ac- cuse him of "parroting Russian propaganda" on the very day that the Russian Federation sanctioned European Parliament President, David Sassoli, and the European Commis- sion's Vice-President, Vera Jourova. "It is a betrayal of Maltese and European values. It is a shocking slap in the face to the expectation of collegiately in the face of third-country aggression. It is a blow to all of those pushing for justice and respect for human rights under unimaginable pressure looking to the Parliament for support," Met- sola said. "Perhaps worst of all, it exposes the worst kind of weakness, submission and hypocri- sy – traits that will be used by autocrats who know now who they can rely on in the Euro- pean Parliament. "17 years to the day after Malta joined the EU despite their best efforts, the Labour Par- ty is yet to understand what it means. What is Robert Abela's position? Does he stand with his Head of Delegation?" In the resolution, MEPs said that should military build-up lead to an invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the EU must make clear the consequences for such a violation of in- ternational law and norms would be severe. Such a scenario must result in an immediate halt to EU imports of oil and gas from Rus- sia, the exclusion of Russia from the SWIFT payment system and the freezing of assets and cancellation of visas for Europe of all oli- garchs tied to the Russian authorities. The resolution also deplores the revelation that the Russian intelligence services set off the explosion of an arms depot in Vrbětice, Czechia, in 2014, in which two Czech citizens were killed. It also called for the immediate and uncon- ditional release of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, whose sentencing is politically motivated and runs counter to Russia's international human rights obliga- tions. It was approved by 569 votes in favour, 67 against with 46 abstentions. Sant abstains on Navalny resolution, Metsola accuses him of parroting Russian propaganda