Labour Faces Nationwide Backlash After Voting Against Public Inquiry Into JeanPaul Sofia’s Death
Photo credit: Miguela Xuereb for Newsbook.mt
The Labour Party is currently facing nationwide backlash after government members voted wholeheartedly against a public inquiry being opened into JeanPaul Sofia’s death.
Yesterday, members of Parliament took a vote on the public inquiry, a topic which has been dominating local news cycles for the last couple of months since Sofia’s death.
The final vote resulted in 32 in favour, 40 against, and zero abstentions. All members of the Labour Party voted against.
Social media has erupted into endless backlash and reactions, with many Maltese citizens condemning the government’s stance, and accusing it of being complicit and seeking to hide the facts.
Chaos erupted in Parliament as soon as the decision was made, “You’re gonna go home and you’re going to feel that you made a mistake”.
“Look into our eyes,” Sofia’s family yelled as Labour MPs stared at their phones.
Isabelle Bonnici, Sofia’s mother, assured straight after the decision that she will be continuing to fight, even though she was heartbroken.
Nationalist Party members, who all voted in favour of the inquiry, immediately called out the Labour Party, “Today we saw what happens when power becomes arrogance and cruelty,” MP Eve Borg Bonello said.
“We still believe that a public inquiry needs to happen,” party leader Bernard Grech said. “We will keep fighting for the truth to come out fully.”
“Heartless, soulless, no words,” former party leader Adrian Delia wrote.
“I wish all of Malta saw the Labour MPs staring down at their phones, too ashamed to stare up at these people’s faces,” MP Darren Carrabot said.
Activists from Moviment Graffitti were also present in Parliament while the vote was taken, sharing a heartbreaking video of the scene which ensued after the decision.
“Labour MPs had to face the anger and sadness of the family members and friends of Sofia, who fairly accused them of having their own hands stained with blood. The courage of his family and friends contrast strongly with cowardice of the Labour MPs, slaves of the capitalists rather than the workers.”
Since then, Facebook is flooded with backlash, from MEPs and lawyers, to psychologists, artists, activists, doctors, and leading figures such as Jon Mallia, all condemning the shameful vote which was taken last night.
“If those of you who are left-wing progressives do not uproot the earth with anger after this vote, you are complicit as much as they are,” Mallia wrote.
“Shameful,” MEP David Casa wrote.
“The silence makes you complicit. Happy holidays, Labour MPs. Those bloodstains on your clothes won’t be leaving easily,” author and activist Wayne Flask wrote.
“Those who are supposed to be serving citizens, have forced a mother to plead for justice for her son who was killed by the greed of soulless negotiators. Robert Abela and his deputy members reached rock bottom now. They’ve become the face of arrogance and cruelty,” Repubblika president Robert Aquilina wrote.
“It could have been my son!” photographer Bernard Polidano said.
What do you make of this latest development?
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