‘A Wound That Is Still Bleeding’: Malta’s New President Talks About Caruana Galizia Assassination In First Speech
Notary Myriam Spiteri Debono delivered her first speech as the 11th President of Malta. Among the many topics she discussed, Debono touched upon the Daphne Caruana Galizia assassination, describing it as a “wound on our country that is still bleeding”.
The president focused sharply on corruption, characterising it as more detrimental than drug dependency, and cautioned that the wounds from the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia remain unhealed.
“The greed for money, which translates to corruption is even worse than a drug addiction, which contrary to public perception is indeed not the worst form of addiction”.
“It is important that this harrowing chapter in our country’s past is closed once and for all. Otherwise, there will be fallout,” the President said, referring to the Caruana Galizia murder.
“When one is addicted to drugs, he is only harming himself. When one has a hunger for money, he is not only harming himself, but also society,” she said, adding that “good governance can never be put aside”.
Prior to mentioning the Caruana Galizia case, the President emphasised the importance of the government implementing the recommendations put forward in public inquiries. “Otherwise, they would have been done in vain,” she remarked.
“The latest public inquiry, revolving around the death of the young Jean Paul Sofia, seems to be getting somewhere in terms of the implementation of recommendations.
However, there is still much to be desired when it comes to the previous public inquiry which looked into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, particularly when it comes to media reforms”.
The President described local media as “the fourth pillar of society” and the “voice of the public”.
Do you agree with the President’s sentiments?
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