Cardona asks for Parliament’s protection after fears of a ‘frame-up’ over Caruana Galizia murder, Speaker declines

● While Cardona frets about Keith Schembri framing him, his law firm partner represents Schembri

Maybe there just aren’t enough good lawyers to go around or the pool being used by Labour Party politicians is just too small.

But it was a strange situation yesterday when self-suspended minister Chris Cardona wrote to the Speaker of the House of Representatives claiming Keith Schembri had effectively plotted to frame him for the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, when a partner at his own law firm, Cardona & Vassallo - Mark Vassallo - is actually representing Schembri in a number of cases.

Cardona yesterday asked Parliament for protection after fears that there had been an attempt to pin the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia on him.

The Speaker, however, told Cardona that House rules do not provide for a remedy on matters that do not take place inside the Chamber.

Cardona fears there was an attempt to frame him — one of the late journalist’s favourite political targets — for the assassination.

In a letter sent to Speaker Anglu Farrugia yesterday morning, Cardona asked that “all necessary steps” be taken to protect him and his constitutional function as an MP.

The letter comes after Times of Malta reported how the Cabinet had raised concerns that Keith Schembri, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s former chief of staff, had conspired with Yorgen Fenech in an attempt to frame Cardona for Caruana Galizia’s murder.

Schembri has denied being involvement in any such frame- up, but no statement has been issued to deny the report.

This was noted by Cardona in his letter, in which he also said that any attempt to prejudice and attack an MP’s constitutional function requires “strong and effective action,” including from Parliament itself.

But in his reply, the Speaker said that while he had taken note of the MP’s request, he could only take action on matters that take place in the House.

He stated that he understood Cardona’s preoccupation but could offer him no remedy according to House rules.

According to multiple reports, ministers told Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday evening during which it was decided to not grant a presidential pardon to Fenech, that they were concerned and angry about an attempt to pin Caruana Galizia’s assassination on Cardona.

In his letter to the Speaker, Cardona said that, contrary to other media reports on what had been said during the late- night Cabinet meeting, there was no denial that ministers had spoken to investigators about a possible attempt to frame him.

“I believe that any attempt to prejudice and attack a Member of Parliament’s constitutional function requires strong and effective action, including from the House itself, the highest institution in the country.”

Cardona, who “suspended himself” from his post of Economy Minister last Tuesday, was briefly questioned by police last Saturday in relation to the murder. At least one member of his secretariat was also questioned.