Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546635
15 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 SEPTEMBER 2026 FEATURE What the inquiry proposed, the government disposed The Daphne Caruana Galizia Public Inquiry, published in July 2021, made several recommendations for reforms to strengthen the rule of law and safeguard journalism. We list the key reforms proposed by the inquiry board and outline whether they have been implemented THE Caruana Galizia Public Inquiry found the Maltese State responsible for creating an atmosphere of impunity that led to the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in October 2017. Apart from documenting its findings, the inquiry also made several recom- mendations to improve the rule of law and strengthen the protection of jour- nalists. The vast majority of the recom- mendations were never implemented and, in those cases, where implementa- tion was partial, too much has been left in abeyance. In some instances, the gov- ernment has flatly refused to implement some of the reforms. The recommendations of the pub- lic inquiry resurfaced on the national agenda in the wake of Yorgen Fenech's acquittal. He was charged with master- minding Caruana Galizia's assassination but after a 55-day trial, jurors acquitted him on both charges—conspiracy and criminal association—with an identical 8-1 vote-margin. Last week, a solidarity protest in Val- letta organised by Repubblika and Oc- cupy Justice, supported by several or- ganisations, including MaltaToday, called for justice to prevail and reforms highlighted by the public inquiry to be enacted. Meanwhile, the Opposition has given notice of its intention to table an omni- bus bill, containing several legal amend- ments to implement key proposals rec- ommended by the inquiry. MaltaToday took a look at the pub- lic inquiry's key recommendations and the status of their implementation five years down the line. PUBLIC INQUIRY RECOMMENDATIONS 1. UWOS: A law is required to fight financial crime including bribery and corrup- tion by means of Unexplained Wealth Orders. STATUS: UNIMPLEMENTED An attempt by former Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis to introduce UWOs as part of a new KURT SANSONE & JULIANA ZAMMIT ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt jzammit@mediatoday.com.mt CONTINUES NEXT PAGE > Photos of assassinated journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia held up (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)