{ "id": 10152, "date": "2026-09-04T12:10:40", "date_gmt": "2026-09-04T10:10:40", "guid": { "rendered": "https:\/\/repubblika.org\/?p=10152" }, "modified": "2026-09-04T12:10:40", "modified_gmt": "2026-09-04T10:10:40", "slug": "prime-minister-if-you-are-going-to-cite-repubblika-cite-us-properly", "status": "publish", "type": "post", "link": "https:\/\/repubblika.org\/en\/prime-minister-if-you-are-going-to-cite-repubblika-cite-us-properly\/", "title": { "rendered": "PRIME MINISTER, IF YOU ARE GOING TO CITE REPUBBLIKA, CITE US PROPERLY" }, "content": { "rendered": "

We admit we took it as a compliment. After years in which Robert Abela ignored Repubblika, refused to meet us and treated independent civil society with contempt, the Prime Minister has suddenly discovered that Repubblika is an authority worth citing. We would welcome this change if he cited us honestly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Prime Minister cited our statements following Yorgen Fenech\u2019s acquittal as evidence that Malta\u2019s institutions worked as they should. That is not what we said. And it is not what we believe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, since the Prime Minister has chosen to cite Repubblika, we invite him to continue. We respect the prosecutors who presented an extraordinarily difficult case, the investigators who worked conscientiously to uncover the truth, and the judge who presided over a long and exceptionally complex trial. We respect the constitutional authority of the jury and the legal effect of its verdict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

None of this changes our conviction, based on the evidence we heard, that Yorgen Fenech commissioned the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A journalist was murdered because of her work. Those who carried out the murder have admitted their responsibility or been convicted. The man we remain convinced commissioned that murder has walked free. There is nothing here for the government to congratulate itself about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Respect for the work of the prosecutors, investigators and judiciary does not mean that we approve of the system in which they had to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trial exposed an investigation of profoundly uneven quality. It exposed disturbing relationships between political power, economic power and people entrusted with enforcing the law. We heard evidence of leaks and interference, failures in gathering and preserving evidence, and conduct raising serious questions about whether powerful people were protected when they should have been investigated. These problems did not emerge this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five years ago, the Public Inquiry found the State responsible for creating a climate of impunity that facilitated Daphne\u2019s murder. Robert Abela has been Prime Minister throughout those five years. His government has still not implemented all the Inquiry\u2019s recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Repubblika repeatedly asked him to act. We proposed using the Open Government process to implement the outstanding recommendations. His government abandoned that process and ignored our appeals. The European Commission, GRECO, OSCE\/ODIHR and others have repeatedly called for reforms that remain delayed, weakened or ignored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Robert Abela believes Repubblika\u2019s views are worth citing, here are some more he can cite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government must now:<\/p>\n\n\n\n