“Commission must support calls for public inquiry following Daphne Project revelations”

Following the revelations of the Daphne Project exposing further ties between Maltese Minister Chris Cardona and the alleged assassins of Daphne Caruana Galizia, MEPs from across political groups have expressed their concern and demanded that the European Commission monitors the ongoing investigation, as well as supports the Caruana Galizia family’s request for an independent public inquiry. This comes after Partit Nazzjonalista Head of Delegation David Casa made a similar request on Monday.

The MEPs listed the facts they consider pertinent to the need for a public inquiry into the role of the Maltese State in the assassination. The MEPs stated: “Politicians exposed by Daphne Caruana Galizia’s reporting to be involved in corruption and money laundering continue to hold public office. Keith Schembri, the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff and Konrad Mizzi, the Tourism Minister, were exposed by the Panama Papers leak as the UBOs of offshore companies into which they planned to funnel exorbitant funds that could not be legitimately explained.”

The MEPs also referred to the delay in taking action on Pilatus Bank as well as the fact that Nexia BT continues to operate without consequence, both of which had featured extensively in Daphne Caruana Galizia’s reporting.

The MEPs referred to the Daphne Project story that reported that Minister Chris Cardona was seen in the company of at least one of the alleged assassins both before and after the assassination. They also noted that Daphne Caruana Galizia’s death enabled Cardona to drop libel proceedings thus preventing conclusive evidence that could have confirmed Daphne Caruana Galizia’s brothel allegations to remain concealed.

On the latest Daphne Project revelations, the MEPs said: “The Daphne Project revealed that Cardona was present at an intimate gathering with one of the alleged assassins prior to the assassination in 2017. The Daphne Project also revealed that despite the Maltese Secret Service having placed the alleged assassins under surveillance prior to the assassination, the records of this surveillance were, at least until May 2018, withheld from the then inquiring magistrate Anthony Vella. who has been promoted to judge in June 2017, preventing him from continuing his investigation into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia.”

The letter was co-signed by MEP David Casa, MEP Ana Gomes (S&D), MEP Monica Macovei (ECR), MEP Maite Pagazaurtundúa (ALDE), and MEP Stelios Kouloglou (GUE/NGL).

A copy of the letter is being attached to this Press Release.