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Malta · Southern Europe
Public power, representation and democratic consequence
Maltese Prime Minister to Resign over Link to Murder Investigation. The Prime Minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat announced to the nation on Sunday that he would be resigning as the leader of the governing Labour Party on the 12th of January, 2020, and would resign as Prime Minister within days thereafter.
This announcement was as a result of the pressure mounted by angry Maltese citizens over the 2017 car bombing killing of the controversial journalist, Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Over the weekend, thousands of Maltese protested outside a courthouse in the capital, Valletta, demanding that he steps down. About 20,000 Maltese citizens flooded Republic Street outside the courthouse in what was by far the largest turnout so far, in weeks of a public outpouring of anger and disgust aimed at Muscat’s government.
In a televised broadcast, Joseph Muscat said
“he has informed the President of Malta that he will quit as leader of the governing Labor Party on Jan. 12 and that “in the days after I will resign as prime minister.”
“As prime minister, I promised two years ago that justice would be done in the case of the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia,” Muscat said, beginning his speech, adding that “today I am here to tell you that I kept my word.”
He further noted that in addition to three people arrested soon after the bombing for carrying out the actual attack, now there is “someone accused of being the principal person behind this killing.” The Prime Minister was referring to the Yorgen Fenech, the Maltese Businessman who was arraigned on Saturday on charges of organizing and financing the bombing, as well as complicity in the murder. Yorgen Fenech entered a plea of innocence.
Keith Schembri, the former Chief of Staff to the embattled President has also been allegedly linked to the murder of the journalist. Schembri resigned from his post last week and was subsequently arrested but later released on bail. He has since denied any wrongdoing.
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The prime minister insisted that he will see to it that “justice is for everyone,’’ and said the investigation is still ongoing.
Before her death, Daphne Caruana Galizia focused her investigative journalism on fighting corruption within the rank and file of the Maltese society, and in the process, ruffled feathers in the political and business spheres of the country.
The governing Labor has a majority in the Maltese Parliament, implying that a new party leader could become the new Prime Minister without having to conduct a fresh national election.
Joseph Muscat was elected as prime minister in 2013 and his currently serving his second term.
