Anger after note with Adrian Delia’s title is removed from flower wreath

The removal of a note indicating that a flower wreath at the Caruana Galizia memorial was laid by the Opposition leader has angered Nationalist Party activists.

The note was replaced with a paper carrying Daphne Caruana Galizia’s famous last words: “There are crooks everywhere you look now. The situation is desperate.”

The incident was flagged by Nationalist Party MEP candidate Dione Borg, who condemned the action.

PN MEP Dione Borg condemned the removal of the note indicating the wreath was laid by the Opposition leader

“Daphne is a martyr for the freedom of expression of all Maltese,” Borg wrote in a Facebook post that attracted a reaction from Delia loyalists.

Several people who commented beneath Borg’s post expressed dismay at the manner by which Delia is being treated by activists campaigning for justice for Caruana Galizia.

“A bunch of elitist snobs,” one man wrote.

Another woman described Delia as “too good”. “I am still hurt by [what happened at] the last demonstration and did not attend [yesterday],” a woman wrote.

Another woman said that she attended yesterday’s march after seeing that Delia laid flowers at the memorial. “I left when Marion Pace Axiaq started speaking, referring to Simon [Busuttil] as leader, praising him, and failing to mention Adrian once, despite his efforts to ensure the truth prevails,” she wrote.

READ ALSO: Thousands march in Valletta for Daphne Caruana Galizia

Delia laid the wreath of flowers on Tuesday afternoon, paying his respects to the journalist on the first year of her murder.

Delia’s name was not mentioned once by those who addressed the crowd that attended the evening march in Valletta. Various Opposition MPs were present, including deputy leader David Agius and Delia loyalist Kristy Debono.

Busuttil was greeted with applause when his name was mentioned by some of the speakers.

The monthly vigils held every 16thof the month to mark the day Caruana Galizia was murdered have proven to be a source of friction for the PN.

Last month, on the same day that Delia was opening the party’s Independence day celebrations on the Granaries, he was booed at a Caruana Galizia vigil for which several MPs were present, including Busuttil.