Brussels protest to back citizens demanding justice in Malta

The Maltese community in Brussels will be holding a protest on Thursday supported by Defending Democracy.

The protest will be held at 12.30pm in front of the Maltese embassy. It follows almost protests in Malta being held on almost a daily basis demanding the immediate resignation of Joseph Muscat following his office being implicated in the assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

This concerns all of Europe, the organisers said, urging EU citizens to join them. “We will speak out against the atmosphere of injustice and impunity. The investigation into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia must be free from political interference, as is normal in any free democracy. We will be calling for justice and the implementation of the recommendations of the Council of Europe, including judicial reform.”

They said Malta needed immediate resignations, accountability and a clean and just government citizens deserve.

A protest was also held in London last week, organised by Maltese citizens who have long been active in the UK in demanding justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia. The UK branch of Reporters Without Borders also joined the protest, that was also addressed by former BBC journalist John Sweeney.

Malta is being closely monitored by EU institutions. Last week, the European Parliament sent a delegation of MEPs to investigate the state of the rule of law following the developments in the investigation into the journalist’s assassination. Following the visit, MEPs called for Muscat’s immediate resignation.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also made reference to the situation in Malta in her first press conference after taking office. Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova also said she was following events in Malta closely.

European Parliament Quaestor David Casa supported the protest on social media, saying: “There is disbelief in Brussels that Joseph Muscat continues to cling onto power after his office was implicated in the assassination of a journalist and the intrinsically linked efforts to cover in up and obstruct justice. People are furious. The Maltese community in Brussels will also make its voice heard before Thursday’s EU Council summit. I will be among them”.

Indications are that Muscat intends to attend the EU Council summit that will start on Thursday afternoon and end on Friday, despite the ongoing crisis in Malta.