Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1547002
The following has been edited for brevity and clarity. The full interview can be found on maltatoday.com.mt as well as our Facebook and Spotify pages. PHOTOS: JAMES BIANCHI / MALTA TODAY 5 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 4 OCTOBER 2026 INTERVIEW When Daphne Caruana Gal- izia is mentioned, there is this irritation which seems to grip the Labour Party. You have Jason Micallef labelling banners calling for justice "vandalism", you have a Labour mayor in Valletta refusing banners as well. I understand she wasn't Labour's biggest fan, but cannot the party rise above this in light of her being assassinated for being a journalist? One has to make some distinction. I expect journalists to not have a liking for one party or the other. A journalist has the right to press politicians and parties in their questioning, and I also expect journalists to investigate, and that was an important part of Daphne's work. But let's call a spade, a spade. I will not point to other cases, but my own. I never had cases of corruption, I never had cases of nepotism, but this journalist, and I will call her a journalist, did not carry out investigations on me, but used photos of me when I was having a drink with friends, of my bedroom, in an attempt to diminish me. She also tried to carry out this psychological analysis of you, calling you ignorant and dumb, simply because I was part of the Labour youth wing… I understand those elements within the party, who still feel sore about her writing. Now, I never went to Brussels to say she was not a journalist, or that she wrote gossip, because I don't think that is right after such a tragedy. Sure, but after that trag- edy, we need a national conversation to bring together these different perspectives on Daphne. But is this debate not being suppressed when you have ONE News calling protest- ers who took to the streets of Valletta after Yorgen Fenech's acquittal as "extremists"? The protest wasn't just attended by people from Repubblika or Occupy Justice, but people who even had voted for La- bour in previous elections. Is this strategy not pushing people away? We called extremist the Nationalist Party's reaction shortly after the acquittal saying the murder was concocted in Castille. Our biggest criticism was the rushed reaction we saw by the Opposition after the jury decision. What we criticised was the lack of political maturity shown by the Opposition leader who holds a constitutional role. […] The verdict shocked everyone, including me, but to use it to go the European Parliament to attack Malta's reputation, for me is not acceptable. Sure, I agree it is not right to use such a tragedy for political gain, but the anger was widespread. You had hundreds if not thou- sands of people in Valletta during the main protest… But that is my question: To whom was the anger directed? The jury? But do you not understand that anger? Is it not un- derstandable to criticise institutions when nine years after the murder, the mastermind is still at large? The thing which gives me peace of mind most is the reaction by the Caruana Galizia family, who praised the work carried out by the people who led the investigation, like Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud, who spent these past years securing evidence. I would have been worried if the government, the Labour Party or a politician tried to supress the investigation, and prevented the police from doing their job. But this was not the case, and this was said by the family themselves. I am not passing judgment on the verdict, because as a politician I believe I should be cautious. I believe in the distinction between the judiciary and the political class. This week we saw Clyde Caruana launch the pre- budget document. Before the summer we also had the election, and Labour's flagship pledge was the super bonus. Obviously, we have to see what is actually announced, but as depu- ty leader do you think it should be included in the coming budget? We are currently in consultation phase, and so it remains to be seen what is actually announced. I must point out before 2013, people would not expect a pre-budget consultation, but would be scared the budget has arrived. Today people are looking forward to it, because they are used to Labour governments delivering what was promised. […] I am expecting one thing—all pledges should be implemented throughout the legislature. But you are being a politi- cian here. The super bonus was marketed heavily by the party and is a pledge, which has stuck with the people… Clyde Caruana never said it would not be implemented. Measures, especially big measures are announced in the budget. The Labour Party declares itself a socialist party, and within this context I want to speak about the subsi- dies. Due to the govern- ment's spending on these subsidies, we are seeing measures potentially being delayed. As a socialist par- ty's deputy leader does it make sense that subsidies benefit everyone across the board? I can speak from my experience in Europe. Why is the far-right rising in Europe? Because people feel the traditional political parties have betrayed them and put aside their priorities. I believe, in today's situation, as minister Clyde Caruana said, the subsidies are crucial. When you look at the big issues faced by the economies of larger countries around us, and the astronomical prices of their energy, you realise these subsidies are crucial. […] These subsidies provide stability for people and investors who want to plan for the long-term. You accuse European Com- mission President Ursula von der Leyen of being fixated on defence. But the Russian threat is real. You have colleagues from coun- tries on the Russian fron- tier, and they do feel that threat. With the Trump ad- ministration in the White House, do you not think the EU should be better pre- pared on defence? I understand the feelings on Russia in eastern European countries, even because of the historical hang-ups which stem from the Cold War. I also accept that other countries have a strong military policy. But the European project was never a military project. When we signed the accession treaty in 2004, we never signed up to a military project. I am being critical because the European project is not being honest… With citizens facing increased costs on fuel and energy, with industries which are closing down, with pressures on European budgets the priorities are not right. […] You have states like Malta who have a right not to be caught up in conflicts and wars because it goes against our principles.