Maltese PM clinging to power after links to murder

HE’S the EU leader who has been described as Tony Blair’s “mini me”, and like his “mentor” has lobbied for Britain to hold a second referendum to reverse Brexit. But last night Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was clinging to power after being accused of having “blood on his hands” over the murder of an investigative journalist.

Until recently he was the darling of the Blairite set, with former No 10 Downing Street spin doctor Alastair Campbell flying to the Mediterranean island as recently as four weeks ago to speak at an investors’ conference with Muscat.

However, after the prime minister’s chief of staff was arrested last week over allegations he had been a coconspirator in the car bomb assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia – who had made allegations of high-level corruption among Muscat’s associates – Blair and his allies have distanced themselves.

A spokesperson for Blair was keen last night to stress that he was “not in regular contact” with the embattled Maltese premier.

Baby-faced Muscat has faced growing anger over claims that he has tried to protect two of his most senior ministers from being implicated in Caruana Galizia’s killing two years ago.

She was murdered after finding evidence in the Panama Papers – a cache of 11 million documents detailing secretive offshore tax arrangements leaked in 2016 – apparently incriminating Keith Schembri, who ran Muscat’s office.

The 53-year-old reported that Schembri and Muscat’s energy minister, Konrad Mizzi, were due to receive money through an offshore company from Yorgen Fenech, a businessman who had been granted permission by Muscat’s government to run a power station.

The scandal escalated last week when Schembri was arrested as he tried to flee Malta on his yacht after police received information from a suspected intermediary in the murder.

Caruana Galizia’s family has led calls for Muscat’s resignation, saying the “travesty of justice” was “shaming our country”.

Campbell – who was working for Blair when the former Labour Premier was accused of having “blood on his hands” following the death of weapons scientist Dr David Kelly – flew out to speak at a “Malta Attractiveness” conference in October.

Muscat, 45, who has been prime minister since 2013, is regarded as being “one of several young leaders groomed and mentored by Blair since he left office”.

A diplomatic source said: “When Muscat became prime minister the investment started to pay off.

“Blair cronies and spin doctors have been dispatched to Malta, and an army of international lobbyists and consultants paid from the public purse to provide strategic advice to Muscat and his ministers to help sweep under the carpet government controversies such as the sale of passports, Panama bank accounts, tax avoidance and money laundering.”

Muscat took a hard line against the UK during Brexit talks and joined Blair in urging the UK to hold a second referendum. |