Micallef stands by controversial statements following resignation calls
Embattled Valletta 2018 chairman Jason Micallef stood by his controversial comments yesterday, particularly those involving assassinated journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, telling The Malta Independent that he believed the whole situation had been “blown out of proportion” and shifted focus away from the positive work done by the V18 Foundation.
Commenting directly on his social media post mocking Caruana Galizia’s last words, Micallef explained that he felt the need to speak up after seeing a number of placards at protests describing Malta as a mafia state.
“It’s not true that the population feels that Malta is a mafia state. Every chance they have to go out to celebrate, they do, which should be praised,” he said.
“I am a person who speaks their mind. I have criticised the government in the past on a number of occasions, like with the market stalls, traffic congestion and pollution. The papers who criticise me now praised me then.”
He was asked whether he felt at all hypocritical, given that he was speaking as a proponent of free speech in spite of criticising activists on numerous occasions after they had placed banners around Malta.
Micallef said that he would have removed any banner, whether it was government or privately owned, if it was blocking advertising space that was already paid by other individuals.
“We would be going back to the past if we decided to impose different rules for different people. In the last five years, the country has opened up freedom of expression,” he claimed. “We have to respect each other. I have no problem with those who criticise me but I have the right to express myself.”
Asked specifically about the local artists, 72 MEPs, and PEN international writers who have called for his resignation over the irreparable damage he has caused to the reputation, programme and leadership of Valletta 2018, Micallef said:
“I am surprised by their reaction; our programme has 400 events and incorporates hundreds of artists. A number of those who signed the petition continue to work with V18 as do their partners. This is how democracy works. These people have criticised me – they’ve called me an idiot among other things – yet I still work with them and their projects.”
He said that the overwhelming general consensus over V18 and the work being done was positive, highlighting the impact of V18 in the first four months of the year.
“We should defend the program me because something special is happening in this city; it has completely changed in five years. The community is united and coming together, and it is these projects which interest them.”
“All we want is to bring unity and national pride, and we need to continue moving forward to guarantee more success.”
Pressed on the decision of the committee of Leeuwarden-Fryslân, Valletta’s sister European Capital of Culture, not to send any more official representatives to Valletta as long as V18 “does not distance itself from their offensive tone which refers, most notably, to the relatives of the murdered journalist, Daphne Caruana Galizia,” Micallef said that the journalists had got their facts wrong and referenced a previous statement made by the same committee.
Asked further about the boycott currently in place, Micallef denied it, saying that V18 still financed and still collaborated on a number of projects in Leeuwarden-Fryslân.
“You cannot pick and choose between what these people say. I believe that this has all been blown out of proportion. The one regret I have is that while the population wants to hear the positives and inclusivity of V18, the focus instead has been pushed somewhere else.”