Repubblika warns the Government very clearly that it will use all possible means to resist any threat to the independence of the public inquiry concerning the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

The Prime Minister’s comments, and his interfering with what he deems relevant or otherwise to the inquiry, and now, the comments passed by the whip of the Government’s parliamentary group that aim to discredit the work of the judges forming the Board of Inquiry, are nothing less than a threat to the independence of the inquiry.

The use of the word “independent” to describe the Daphne Caruana Galizia inquiry is not incidental. The inquiry has to delve into what the government could or could not have done after the journalist’s death to ensure that the truth emerges. This is why it is necessary that the inquiry must be independent of any government interference.

The criminal proceedings too, show that the prosecution is of the opinion that there was government involvement in the motives behind Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder. The inquiry has revealed that government action created an atmosphere of impunity that allowed a journalist to be assassinated and that whoever murdered her could think that they could get off scot-free.

It is up to the inquiry to reach its conclusions alone, after having heard all the persons it needs to question, and considered all the evidence it wishes to examine. An independent inquiry means that no prime minister or whip can decide what is relevant or not or how much time the inquiry needs in order to be satisfied that it has collected enough information.

However, since this inquiry is public, just like everyone else, the Prime Minister and the Partit Laburista are coming to the conclusion that the evidence does not show them up in a good light. They are responsible for the government that is being investigated in this inquiry, and from what they have heard, it does not seem that they will emerge spotless from this exercise.

Glenn Bedinfield said that this amounts to a ‘politicisation’ of the process. Since this is an examination of the conduct of a government and a party in government, it is obvious that the process will have political ramifications. The partisan interests of the Partit Laburista are not a sacred cow. If the evidence shows that in order to further the interests of the Partit Laburista, a journalist was murdered, the public inquiry should be left free to ascertain this as well.

Repubblika reiterates that just as it participated in a campaign that went on for many months to ensure the launch of this public and independent inquiry, it is ready to do all that is necessary so that this public and independent inquiry regarding the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia is allowed to do its work without interference and without any threats from Government.