Casa: Failure to secure justice for Daphne is inexcusable

Nine years after Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination, Casa holds Maltese government responsible for continued failures in securing justice and implementing public inquiry recommendations.

PN Head of Delegation in the European Parliament David Casa has condemned the Maltese government's failure to secure justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia, nine years after her assassination.

Addressing the European Parliament during a debate on the rule of law in Malta, Casa described the recent acquittal of the man accused of commissioning Daphne's murder as a devastating blow to justice and accountability.

“Nine years later, I wish I could tell this House that Malta's institutions have regained their integrity. That those exposed by Daphne for corruption and wrongdoing have been brought to justice. That the person who commissioned her murder is behind bars. But I cannot say any of those things,” Casa said.

“The failure to secure justice is inexcusable. The Maltese state must shoulder responsibility for this failure.”

The acquittal followed a trial during which deeply disturbing allegations emerged, including accounts of earlier plots to assassinate Daphne and evidence of troubling links between business interests and individuals in positions of political power. These revelations have raised further questions about the culture of impunity that surrounded her assassination.

Casa also pointed to the findings of the public inquiry, which concluded that the Maltese state had created a climate of impunity that facilitated Daphne's assassination.

He criticised the government for dragging its feet on implementing the inquiry's recommendations, five years after they were published.

“The public inquiry identified serious failures and set out what needed to change. Yet five years later, most of its recommendations remain unimplemented. The government cannot continue to evade its responsibilities.”

Responding to Prime Minister Robert Abela's recent accusation that raising concerns about Malta in the European Parliament damages the country, Casa insisted that demanding justice and accountability was a duty towards the Maltese people.

“Defending the rule of law is not an attack on Malta. The damage is done by those who steal from the people, abuse their power and believe they are above the law.”

Casa vowed to continue pressing for accountability, both for corruption exposed by Daphne and for those involved in her assassination and attempts to conceal the truth.

“We will not stop defending the Maltese people. We will not stop demanding accountability for those who stole from them. And we will not stop until justice is secured for Daphne.

"The Maltese and Gozitan people deserve better. We will continue this fight until justice is done.”