At the end of the meeting with the Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in Valletta, a delegation from the European Parliament expressed concern about the current state of the Muscat leadership as the Premier of an EU member state. Even the European Commissioner for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova insisted that the investigation into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia must be concluded without any political interference. She made this statement in a phone call with Justice Minister Owen Bonnici. The European Parliament delegation arrived in Malta last night. The country is in a political crisis caused by the arrest and accusations of the entrepreneur Yorgen Fenech in relation to the murder of the Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galicia; along with the close relationships that existed between Keith Schembri, Yorgen Fenech and Joseph Muscat. In the last few days a photo of Schembri has emerged with Melvin Theuma, the middleman in the murder; while today a handwritten letter by Theuma was published, revealing Fenech and Schembri as the masterminds of the murder. In court, the lawyers of Yorgen Fenech implied that Keith Schembri put pressure with the help of third parties to prevent Fenech from giving incriminating information to the police. “There is no longer a basis of trust between Malta and the European Union,” Dutch MEP Sophie Int Veld told reporters after meeting Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this morning. “We have made it clear that there is a problem. Now it is a problem between Malta and the EU, not only between the Prime Minister and the Maltese people. That trust has been seriously damaged. Justice and truth are coming out, and this is the most important thing, “Int Veld said. German MEP Sven Giegold said that Muscat admitted that he knew that Yorgen Fenech was somehow involved in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galicia. “He refused to say exactly when he knew … but he realizes he made a mistake. It was a tense meeting. I can only say that this government does not respect the EU.” Before the meeting with the European delegation, angry protesters gathered in front of the Prime Minister’s office. They threw eggs at the Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Justice Minister Owen Bonnici. Minister Bonnici was hit by one of the eggs. Another meeting was with Laurence Cutajar, the police commissioner. The European delegation noted that the Maltese police with the help of Europol is doing professional work, but stated that a name like the one of Keith Schembri, mentioned on numerous occasions throughout the investigation, is now free and not under arrest. In a court, Daphne Caruana Galizia’s family asked magistrate Nadine Lia to abstain or refuse to preside over the investigations into the alleged masterind behind the murder, Yorgen Fenech. According to the Daphne’s family, Nadine Lia must abstain from the case because the magistrate’s father-in-law, Paul Lia, is very close to the Labour Party and the Labour government. Paul Lia was also the defense counsel of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, and of the former Chief of Staff at the Prime Minister’s office, Keith Schembri and various parliamentarians or Labour representatives. Yorgen Fenech is also opposing for the same reason. The Italian Ambassador to Malta Mario Sammartino said that Malta is currently at a crossroads and the Maltese are in a moment of reflection. “I am convinced that some good will come out of this difficult situation. Italy remains close to the Maltese people,” said Sammartino. The Church in Malta and Gozo have called for unity in these “difficult times” for the country. The civil society and all social partners are calling for the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. They want an interim Prime Minister to be appointed before the elections take place for a new Labour leader and Prime Minister scheduled for 8 and 12 January. Meanwhile, the civil society met in front of the Police Headquarters, in Floriana, in another protest asking the Poliice Commissioner to investigate Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Keith Schembri.

(ITALPRESS/MNA)

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In a televised message to the Maltese people, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that he will remain at the helm of the country until mid-January. This is the latest development in the political and constitutional crisis in Malta after the events of the last days concerning the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galiza two years ago and the arrest of entrepreneur Yorgen Fenech who yesterday was accused of having planned and organized the assassination of Caruana Galizia with the involvement of a criminal group.

In the television message, Muscat announced that he will remain as Prime Minister until a new Labour Party leader is elected after an internal electoral process that will start on January 12th. He promised he would resign as prime minister as soon as a new Labour leader was chosen.

His television message was recorded in the last few days, and aired tonight on the national tv station, and after the biggest demonstration organized by the nationalist opposition and the civil society against Prime Minister Muscat, and in favour of justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia. During the protest there were also present representatives from the Italian journalism union.

Muscat stated that the investigations into the assassination of Caruana Galicia are still ongoing and no one is above the law. Muscat said he kept his word to resolve this murder during his term in office.
(ITALPRESS/MNA)

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At the end of an emergency meeting of the Malta Labour Parliamentary group, there was
no indication that the Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat will resign immediately as indicated before in relation to the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. This led to thousands of protesters taken out to the streets of the capital Valletta demanding justice for Daphne and insisting with the resignation of Muscat from Prime Minister.

In the morning, the Labour Parliamentary Group has agreed to leave Muscat to decide any political decision and has reaffirmed confidence in him, despite there were ministers and parliamentary secretaries in recent days who had wanted Muscat’s resignation immediately.

A statement released by the Labour Party this afternoon confirmed that the Maltese parliament will discuss the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galicia as a result of yesterday’s developemnts when entrepreneur Jorgen Fenech was accused of having planned and organized the assassination of Caruana Galizia with the help of a criminal group.

Muscat has decided that after all these developments, he reinstated Chris Cardona as minister of the economy but Konrad Mizzi’s resignation is still in force.

These developments have caused more anger and disappointment within the nationalist opposition and the civil society. Late this afternoon another national protest was organised in front of the Prime Minister’s office in Valletta. Thousands were present calling for the Prime Minister to resign and to ensure justice into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. This Sunday was the eight time in 12 days that the people have protested over the killing of the Maltese journalist two years ago.

(ITALPRESS/MNA)

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Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this morning called for an emergency meeting of his cabinet to discuss and decide on the future of the country after yesterday evening entrepreneur Yorgen Fenech was accused with the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Muscat is under pressure to resign, not only from the nationalist opposition and the civil society, but also from within his parliamentary group and from sections of the Labour party.

A group of Labour MPs is disappointed and angry and is insisting with Muscat to quit immediately and they want the President of Malta George Vella to appoint the deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne as an interim prime minister until the Labour leadership elections take place on 8 and 18, January 2020.

Muscat is also under pressure for another reason. The majority of Labour MPs want the Maltese police to re-arrest Keith Schembri, the former head of the prime minister’s office in connection with the assassination of Caruana Galizia. There are doubts that Schembri has written a letter that was distributed by the investigators. The letter seems to have the intention of blaming former economic minister Chris Cardona who was interrogated by the police and then, decided to suspend himself from the parliamentary group.

The meeting of the Labour cabinet is taking place in the prime minister’s summer residence in Girgenti.

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Prominent Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech, 38 years was charged this evening in relation to the assassination of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. He was accused of promoting or financing a criminal organisation, participating in criminal activities organised by this criminal organisation, with the complicity in the murder, conspiring with people with the intention of committing a crime and being an accomplice to the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
The assassination of Caruana Galizia took place on 16th October 2017. Fenech pleaded not guilty. Fenech’s lawyers did not request bail for their client but asked the court to explain the police’s request to freeze Fenech’s assets. The court has accepted the prosecution’s request.
Fenech was taken away from court in a police van straing to the Corradino prison.
Replying to a question by Fenech’s lawyer Gianluca Caruana Curren, the prosecution confirmed that Keith Schembri, the ex-Chief of Staff at the Prime Minister’s office did feature during the investigations. Thursday evening, the Police freed Keith Schembri who was under interrogation for several days.
All the family members of Daphne Caruana Galizia were present in court including her husband, her three children together with Caruana Galizia’s brothers, sisters and parents.
Outside court, Corinne Vella, one of Daphne’s sister said “we now expect the Prime Minister to leave office and parliament with immediate effect to allow free and full investigation into his and Keith Schembri’s role in Daphne’s assassintion”.
Yorgen Fenech was arrested by the Maltese police on 20 November, when he was trying to escape from Malta with his yacht and was intercepted by the Armed Forces of Malta as soon as he left the Portomaso marina in St Julians. His arrest was among others in connection with the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Inspector Keith Arnaud confirmed before court that Fenech’s movements were being noticed before he was arrested 10 days ago.
(ITALPRESS/MNA)

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A new Labour leader in Malta will be elected on the 18th of January 2020. The Labour Party Electoral Commission has met this morning to discuss the way forward after yesterday it was made public that Joseph Muscat will resign imminently as Labour Leader and Prime Minister of Malta.
The Labour delegates will be asked to vote on the 8th of January if there will be more than two candidates, and a final vote will take place ten days later.
According to reports, Joseph Muscat will keep on hanging to his post as Labour Leader and Prime Minister after the final vote as scheduled by the Labour Party Electoral Commission.
Meanwhile, the civil society is calling Muscat to resign immediately. Tomorrow is scheduled another national protest infront of the Prime Minister’s office.
(ITALPRESS/MNA)

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During a press conference, after a long cabinet meeting that took six hours, the Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat said he is not ready to quit, despite the protesters’ calls outside his office in Valletta to leave the office. In fact, another demonstration is scheduled for this evening in front of the Prime Minister’s office. Muscat reaffirmed that his obligation is to see justice will be done with the Caruana Galicia family.

Also present during the cabinet meeting were the Maltese Police Commissioner and the Attorney General who gave the Labour Government Ministers advice not to recommend the presidential pardon to entrepreneur Yorgen Fenech. Fenech is under arrest for the murder of the Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in October 16 of two years ago. However, the legal advisers representing Fenech, declared that their client is ready to reveal all the truth about the alleged involvement of Keith Schembri and two ex-Labour Ministers Konrad Mizzi and Chris Cardona.

Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar and Attorney General Peter Agius declared with the Government Ministers that there was no valid reason after the interrogations, for the approval of a presidential pardon to Fenech. After this official declaration, the Ministers decided to approve the recommendation. By this time, Muscat was not present and left his ministers to decide freely.

Meanwhile, during the Cabinet meeting, the Maltese police released an official statement in which it was declared that Keith Schembri was a free man because there is no connection with the murder of Daphne Caruana Galicia. One of the sons of Caruana Galizia, Matthew, reiterated that the institutions are still protecting Schembri and this situation is completely outrageous. During the press conference, the Prime Minister confirmed that Keith Schembri will not be asked to head his office at Auberge de Castille.
(ITALPRESS/MNA)

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“The Alpine crown, seen from space, appears as one of the largest water reserves in Europe, a unique and extremely important territory for all of us. We must decide now to act, all together, to make a difference “. This is stated by Paolo Nespoli, an astronaut who has three space missions and who takes part in the 3RD EUSALP ANNUAL FORUM in the panel ‘Shaping. Future. Toghether. With the next generation ‘meeting dedicated to the relationship between new generations and the environment. “From space we see how we human beings are in every corner of the globe and how our presence is now highly impacting on the environment” says the astronaut on the eve of this meeting. “Measuring, understanding and modifying this impact is fundamental to being able to make informed and responsible choices, in order to coexist in harmony precisely with that environment that allows us to exist on this planet”. And the message he is sending is very clear: “We must decide to become aware and act, all together now, to make the difference”

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The Opposition in Malta led by the Nationalist Party left the Parliament building for the second time this week after Prime Minister Joseph Muscat refused to assume his political responsibility. The opposition is accusing Muscat who had protected his Chief of StaffKeith Schembri, who is under arrest in relation to the assasination of the Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galicia. Opposition leader Adrian Delia said the government led by Muscat has lost his legittimacy of governing the country. The business community in Malta has also referred to the difficult situation that the country is experiencing and has called for greater political responsibility and immediate solutions to the serious problems the nation is facing.

There are reports that during the questioning, Maltese entrepreneur Yorgen Fenech mentioned the name of Keith Schembri as the person who planned the murder of journalist Caruana Galizia on 16 October 2017. During the questioning, Fenech said that the original plan of his escape with his yacht before his arrest took place, was to sail from Malta to Tunisia, and then he will travel to Dubai. Fenech stated that this plan was discussed in the residence of his private doctor in the presence of Schembri in Gozo. Adrian Vella was also questioned twice by the investigators today. There is also confirmation from the telephone system that Fenech and Schembri were in regular contact.

According to a local report, Melvin Theuma who is considered as the mediator in the assassination of Caruana Galizia presented a recorded conversation to the investigators about abet between Theuma and Fenech that the Labour Party will win the 2017 general election with a large majority. Theuma, who is known for his involvement in gambling, accepted the 50,000 euro challenge and that election result indeed increased the winning by 150,000 euros. This amount was transferred to a kitty aimed to the financing of the  murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Yorgen Fenech also formally submitted a request for a presidential pardon in exchange for immunity from prosecution and stated that he had information linking Keith Schembri to criminal activity.

Meanwhile, the Maltese police had barricaded the parliament area and the streets leading to the Office of the Prime Minister to block access to the demonstrators. On Wednesday evening, the civil society with the support of the Opposition organized the fifth protest in a week. The protesters blocked the main street that from Floriana leads to Valletta, and gathered in front of the War Monument, chanting slogans ‘Joseph out’ referring to Joseph Muscat to resign immediately as Prime Minister of Malta.

(ITALPRESS/MNA)

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Tourism Minister of Malta Konrad Mizzi has confirmed that he has presented his resignation and Economy Minister Chris Cardona has suspended himself.
Addressing the journalists at the end of an urgent cabinet meeting, Minister Mizzi said that it was his duty to resign in these circumstances.

Even the Chief of Staff of the Maltese Prime Minister’s Office Joseph Muscat presented his resignation. The Maltese police are questioning Keith Schembri about the possibility of his involvement in the case of the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galicia. The interrogation is also about corruption cases in connection with the secret company 17 Black owned by entrepreneur Yorgen Fenech who is also under arrest.

Last night Keith Schembri met with the Maltese Prime Minister in the Prime Minister’s residential home in Burmarrad.
Yesterday the President of the Republic of Malta George Vella signed an official degree guaranteeing a presidential pardon to Melvin Theuma – the first suspect in the murder of Caruana Galizia. He was arrested last week. Theuma is obliged to give every detail on the assasination of the Maltese journalist.
Meanwhile, the civil society with the support of the Nationalist opposition continued with their protests in front of the Parliament building and the Office of the Prime Minister calling for the resignation of Joseph Muscat and the Minister for Economy Chris Cardona who was also questioned by the Police about the murder of Caruana Galizia.

(ITALPRESS/MNA)

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