Time for the whole truth to emerge on the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia
by Caroline Rhawi
The murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia is on the agenda of the European Parliament today. Three years after her death, there is movement in the case. One conviction has finally been handed down, and multiple people were arrested in connection with the cases Caruana Galizia was investigating. This is all very encouraging, but there is a dark side too. Three years is a lot of time in a criminal case. Time equals opportunity. Opportunity to erase evidence and to cover tracks. Breakthroughs in the murder case hinge almost exclusively on testimony by co-conspiritors who receive reduced sentences or go free. A perverted perilous form of justice.
This case prompted the European Parliament to launch a special monitoring group for the rule of law and fundamental rights (DRFMG). This monitoring group spoke to the heads of state and government, high level officials from the judiciary, law enforcement and financial supervision, other journalists, civil society and people other persons connected to the case or it’s circumstances. The DRFMG visited Malta, where people went out in droves, demanding justice and to put an end to corruption. Daphne Caruana Galizia’s family kept the pressure on the investigation, fighting tooth and nail to not let the case fade away in the background. These most admirable efforts remain an inspiration to work as hard as possible towards real justice.
The recent development around the case bring new elements to light, but again raise some serious concerns. The time has come for the whole truth to emerge. Only when we have clarity about who ordered the killing, and the cases she was investigating, will we have some justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia. Furthermore, the people of Malta want an end to corruption, money laundering and threats to the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights. In that goal, they will find Renew Europe besides them. Like the whole of Europe, Malta needs a free press and protection of journalists to keep society and politics honest.
Sophie in ‘t Veld is Renew Europe’s coordinator in the Justice Committee and heads the DRFMG that investigated Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder:
“The killing of Daphne Caruana Galizia’a killing shocked many throughout Europe. Far beyond Malta’s shores. The fact that a journalist had been murdered in the EU, for doing investigative work on corruption at the highest levels of Maltese society, was intolerable. Three years have passed, and there is still not enough clarity about what happened. This is very worrying. This case cannot drag on for another three years. With each passing day, justice is slipping further out of reach”
Under the leadership of the Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group, the European Parliament will now draw up a resolution on the situation in Malta, to be adopted in the plenary session of April.
