MEPs tell Muscat delayed resignation poses risks to Daphne murder investigation
MEPs have called on Prime Minster Joseph Muscat to resign immediately, an EPP statement reads.
A European Parliament resolution, which was overwhelmingly approved (581 votes in favour, 26 against and 83 abstentions), expresses deep concern that Muscat’s delayed resignation continues to pose a risk to the integrity of the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder investigation.
The resolution stresses “that any risk of compromising the investigations, whether perceived or real, must be excluded by all means; further stresses that this risk persists for as long as the prime minister remains in office.”
The head of the PN delegation, MEP Roberta Metsola and European Parliament Quaestor David Casa said that the Maltese government’s actions are not a reflection of the Maltese people.
MEP Metsola stated: “We want the world to know that we are not all cut from the same cloth as Joseph Muscat and the criminals he empowers. They tried to intimidate, threaten and silence critics by calling rallies to denounce us as traitors. But we knew then what the world knows now and we refused to give in. When the world looks at Malta, they should see our true face: a proud people standing up. Muscat is still trying to cling to power for at least another 30 days of chaos – interfering, influencing and contaminating the investigation. He must resign immediately if our country stands any chance of moving forward.”
MEP Casa said that “while Malta’s government has brought us shame, its people have brought us great pride – pride in standing for what is right; pride in taking action to bring our country back from the brink; pride in counting Europe’s bravest journalist as one of our own. Now we demand EU action. We are not interested in vague expressions of concern or promises of monitoring. Now we demand that the European Council and the European Commission do their duty, and we demand that they stand up for the Maltese people. I stand proud with the Maltese people. I stand proud with this European EPP family, which has so far always been there to defend our people.”