The ultimate conspiracy

Truth is all about authentic facts, justice, the rule of law and democracy. Anything short of that can only be a blatant lie, simply serving the malicious purpose of its author.

The conclusions of the meticulous magisterial inquiry into the Egrant allegations, made up by the Opposition in April last year, make it crystal clear that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and his wife, Michelle, had nothing to do with Egrant. It was Dr Muscat and his wife themselves who had immediately requested a thorough court investigation, with Dr Muscat stating repeatedly that he would instantly tender his resignation the moment the faintest thread of truth was indicated.

It was amply clear to all responsible minds that such a false claim undermined the country’s administration and its booming financial services industry, scared away foreign investment and jeopardised thousands of jobs. As a true and responsible national leader, Dr Muscat called an early election to protect and secure the country’s robust and incessant economic growth and the people’s wellbeing.

Failed desperate blow

From the outset, it was meant to frame a diligent government and tarnish the country’s reputation at the peak of Malta’s successful Presidency of the European Council. It was to serve as a desperate blow by a disgruntled Opposition that had long been lacking fair political content and relegated to an endlessly decent respect for democracy. Four years after the 2013 electoral thrashing, it had flatly despised the national well-being for its own partisan gains. It had resorted all along with its chronic arrogant attitude that either its whims prevailed or else it would spoil the game, being also aware of its political deficit of solid and feasible policies.

Last Sunday, after 15 long months of investigations and hearing a multitude of witnesses and forensic experts – both Maltese and foreigners, magistrate Dr Aaron Bugeja proved Dr Muscat right: there was nothing to link the ownership of Egrant to him or his family. It should be pointed out that Dr Bugeja happened to be the Duty Magistrate Government would leave a strong taste of mistrust, clinching the Egrant lie as their lifesaver.

Looking deeper into the inquiry’s findings and recalling the Opposition’s strategy during last year’s electoral campaign, one cannot but be amazed how jealousy sees no boundaries. The then Leader of the Opposition tried to make people believe he would put Dr Muscat and his wife behind bars, with a poster also hinting of confining his two daughters in an institution. It is amazing how the country endured those threats even after he took the people to the streets in protest.

Observers may bring up the historical fact that he lost every election or periodic poll by huge margins at Dr Muscat’s hands when he was at the helm of the Opposition Party. No one can deny that, but now it is high time he admits his consecutive political failures. It is true that he might have bowed out as Opposition Leader a year ago, but he cannot now continue trying to say that he was right in the face of the inquiry report that – to say the least – proved him totally wrong, apart from other conclusions.

A hoax for the majority

Fourteen months ago, a massive 171,000 majority of Maltese and Gozitans showed that they did not believe him or his clique and rejected his allegations as a hoax, which has now been formally declared to be a flagrant lie – in fact, the biggest and most damning lie in Maltese political history. One may now wonder why – on many occasions – he refused the Prime Minister’s challenge to commit himself to resign if the inquiry proved him wrong.

The facts and the truth are now very loud and clear to one and all. The rule of law – that has been so vociferously attacked and denigrated by all factions within the Opposition for 15 long months – has proved to be strong and effective like never before. It is crystal clear that there was a conspiracy to bring down the government through the forgery of documents and the dissemination of the most blatant lie to all possible European fora. More than ever before, the Opposition Party and its hierarchy – both new and old – are now left with no credibility at all.

When arrogance is so endemic, however, it may have no limits. The country wants to move ahead and make up for the damage caused by the holier than thou – now declared deliberate liars. No truth-loving Maltese and Gozitans can allow another full circle of arrogance by those who, in the face of truth, linger on with their habitual tactics that “if all else fails, let us put doubts on the inquiry, on foreign forensic institutions, on the hard-working magistrate and on our judicial system.”

Even if it understandably took 15 months to establish the truth on such a flagrant conspiracy, our country’s rule of law is solid, vigorous and effective. Let justice be served!