Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1536259
WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT WEDNESDAY EDITION €1.00 WEDNESDAY • 11 JUNE 2025 • ISSUE 944 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY KARL AZZOPARDI & JAELLE BORG kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt jborg@mediatoday.com.mt CONTINUES ON PAGE 3 Bernard Grech throws down the gauntlet to Roberta Metsola BERNARD Grech made a surprise move yesterday when he announced his resig- nation from leader of the Na- tionalist Party, a decision he said was taken "serenely". But in doing so, Grech also threw down the gauntlet to European Parliament Presi- dent Roberta Metsola, who has long been touted as the next PN leader. Grech made his announce- ment live on NET TV at noon, saying that his decision paves the way for a new lead- er to write the next chapter. Grech's use of both male and female pronouns—there was a slight pause before sound- ing the female pronoun—to refer to the prospective lead- er was significant. The significance became clearer in the afternoon when Grech was door- stepped by journalists out- side the PN headquarters. When asked by MaltaTo- day whether he had spoken to Metsola before resigning, Grech answered in the neg- ative, insisting the decision was his alone. However, he also acknowl- edged that Metsola enjoyed a higher trust rating than himself for the past months and years and that his de- parture creates the space for those who enjoy more trust than him to contest. SEE ALSO PAGES 4-5 EDITORIAL PAGE 11 Variable interest rate of 2.80% * Low contribution Low collateral requirements *Business Lending Bank Base Rate presently at 2.15%, Interest Margin and EIF Guarantee Fee. The BOV SME Grow and the BOV SME Grow Green are funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund with the financial backing of the Republic of Malta under the InvestEU Member State Compartment for Malta. All loans are subject to normal bank lending criteria and final approval from the Bank. Issued by Bank of Valletta p.l.c., 58, Triq San Żakkarija, il-Belt Valletta, VLT 1130. Bank of Valletta p.l.c. is a public limited company regulated by the MFSA and is licenced to carry out the business of banking in terms of the Banking Act (Cap. 371 of the laws of Malta). Grow green BOV SME Supporting Your Vision CONTACT US THE assassins behind the murders of Carmel Chircop and the suppliers of the bomb that killed Daphne Caruana Galizia have been sentenced to life im- prisonment. All four men in the trial—brothers Adrian and Robert Agius, known as tal-Maksar, Jamie Vella and George Degiorgio—were found guilty last week of involvement in the murders of Daphne Caruana Galizia and Carmel Chircop. Reacting to the sentence outside of court Carmel Chircop's widow, Mary Rose Chircop thanked investigators, Judge Edwina Grima, the prosecution, and all those responsible for today's re- sults. MAKSAR GANG TRIAL Judge hands down four life sentences Clockwise from top left: Robert Agius, Jamie Vella, Adrian Agius and George Degiorgio KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt Roberta Metsola has long been touted as a successor to Bernard Grech as PN leader