In the draft resolution, Fournier and Loucaides noted with concern last year’s findings of the Caruana Galizia public inquiry, “in particular its conclusion that there is a culture of impunity and institutional omerta in Malta”.

The PL MPs teamed up with six other European MPs (Domagoj Hajduković, Gerardo Giovagnoli, George Foulkes, Leslie Griffiths, Stefan Schennach and Didier Marie) to propose that the words “there is a culture of impunity”, be replaced by the words “there existed a culture of impunity”.

“The public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia published its report on 29 July 2021,” the MPs explained. “The Board of the Public Inquiry made several recommendations, some of which will require time to be fully assessed and implemented. However work to implement these recommendations has already begun, alongside other reforms.”

However, this amendment was rejected by the Council of Europe in a vote, meaning the final resolution warns that a culture of impunity is still present.

This was one of ten amendments the PL MPs proposed in an attempt to water down the resolution’s criticism of the current Maltese government and make it acknowledge the institutional reforms Prime Minister Robert Abela has passed since taking charge. 

Two of their amendments were accepted while the remaining eight were rejected.

During the discussion about the resolution, PN MP Beppe Fenech Adami said the Nationalist Party shares the Council of Europe’s preoccupation “with regards to the collapse of the rule of law and culture of impunity that has taken over Malta”.

“The report comes in the wake of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination and hot on the heels of the public inquiry report set up a good two years after her assassination following pressure made by the Council of Europe and other entities,” he said.

“The public inquiry concluded that the state should shoulder responsibility, acknowledge the grave shortcomings of the Muscat administration leading up to the assassination, and said the police and authorities should start investigations to ensure everyone involved in the assassination is held accountable.”

“Not much process has been made to ensure justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia and for all the corruption scandals she exposed.”

Are you surprised by this admission by PL MPs?