The recent murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in mid-October caused great uproar throughout the whole of Malta and the rest of Europe. A bomb strapped underneath her car was the source of the horrific explosion that took her life. The blogger caused quite the stir following her reports about bribery, tax evasion, corruption and nepotism in the government. It was her activism that led to Muscat’s decision to hold parliamentary elections early.
Muscat Commits to Solve Murder Case
The whole of Malta grieves for Galizia’s murder, while President Muscat has made it very clear that the police force will not rest until the perpetrators are behind bars. He says that violence to this degree is intolerable here- there will be action. Perhaps precisely because Galizia has spoken out against Muscat again and again, he finds it all the more his duty to get to the bottom of this. The EU has made its view on the subject very clear as well; Malta has an obligation to uphold its rule of law ansd must do everything in its power to solve the case. There were also several cases of representatives of the International Media demanding more freedom of press in Malta.
Recent Arrests in Murder Case Bring Hope for Quick Resolve
The first breakthrough in the investigation was discovered on the 4th of December when, according to Maltese authorities, 10 suspects were arrested under suspicion of involvement in the murder of Galizia. All 10 suspects are Maltese, but whether anyone else is involved is still unclear at this point. However, the current suspects are all known by the police and have criminal records. The investigators now have 48 hours to question these suspects in the hopes of eventual prosecution. All we can do is hope for success.
Malta Wants Answers
Looking back at an eventful 2017 for Malta, it would certainly be considered a success for the case of the reporter’s death to be solved before year is out. Muscat therefore reemphasizes that the case has been and continues to be taken very seriously, while Malta would once again outline the significance they place on respecting the rule of law.
