Do Justice Minister’s statements mean Caruana Galizia murder case is closed? - Adrian Delia

Adrian Delia has asked whether Owen Bonnici’s statements, that the government had done all it could to solve Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder, meant that the chapter is now closed and no more can be done.

The Justice Minister said this week, during an interview on TimesTalk, that the government had done everything within its power to bring those behind the murder to justice.

“Joseph Muscat had declared that he would leave no stone unturned to find out who the culprits behind Caruana Galizia’s murder were,” Delia said during an interview on NET FM this morning, “And, this week, Bonnici said the government had done all that it could possibly do.”

“Does this means that the chapter is now closed, and nothing else can be done?” he asked, “And if this is not the case, will the Justice Minister be updating us on how the investigation is progressing? Can the government tell us if the murderer is going to be found?”

"In Slovakia, seven of the highest ranking officials in the country resigned after journalist Ján Kuciak was killed, including the Prime Minster, and the information and justice ministers. But nobody resigned in Malta. It is a country where there is no such thing as responsibility." 

"However, people are slowly starting to realise the way things are, and to ask more questions. If the government does not want to listen, we will persevere until it does."

‘Shameful’ request for foreign help

Reacting to the news that Malta is requesting the assistance of an advisory body of the Council of Europe to aid in its review of the country’s institutional structures, Delia said it was “shameful” that the Justice Minister needed foreign help to do this.

“If the government cannot undertake the necessary constitutional changes, we will do them ourselves from the Opposition,” he said.

Turning to the constitutional application he had filed asking for a copy of the full Egrant report, Delia said it was unacceptable that the Attorney General was appearing in this case, while at the same time also acting as a lawyer for the Prime Minister and Justice Minister.

“Can any legal expert possibly think this is something which happens in a normal country?,” Delia asked.

The Opposition leader went on to speak about the quality of living in Malta, emphasising that the country’s salaries were inadequate to keep up with rising costs.

“The middle class in Malta is shrinking, since people cannot afford high living and rent costs, even if they earn a salary which is at the higher end of average,” he said.

“People are shouting out to be able to live a decent life and to move up the ladder. But society is soulless under this government. With the PN in power, we would foster a society which cares,” Delia added.