Italian Ambassador Told Me Malta Was A Mafia State, Former Partit Demokratiku Leader Recounts
Italy’s former ambassador to Malta had described the island as a “mafia state” during a diplomatic meeting, former Partit Demokratiku leader Anthony Buttigieg has recounted.
Buttigieg told Lovin Malta that he had paid a courtesy call to the Italian ambassador, back then Mario Sammartino, in around March-April 2019, and that the ambassador was angry at the situation in Malta.
“We spoke for around an hour and a half and he was quite hard in his words; he said that there are people high up in the Maltese hierarchy who are close to the Mafia,” Buttigieg said.
“He spoke about links between fuel and money laundering and the Italian Mafia and said the Maltese government was protecting people from prosecution.”
“He also said he’s concerned the Italian police are being hindered in their own investigations because of a lack of cooperation from government, at the state of the rule of law, and that Malta is becoming a mafia state.”
“He was very frank. We were a small party but he knew we were anti-corruption so he opened up to us.”
Buttigieg also said that, in a meeting he had with then-French ambassador Brigitte Curmi in September 2019, the ambassador told him that the French government knew who had murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
“As I was walking out of the meeting, she told me that the French government knows who killed Daphne Caruana Galizia,” he said. “She didn’t say who and I didn’t ask but her hint was that politicians were involved.”
In November 2019, Yorgen Fenech was arrested for the assassination of Caruana Galizia, triggering a political crisis that culminated in Joseph Muscat’s resignation as Prime Minister.
Fenech has since been indicted but no date for his trial by jury has been set yet.
Meanwhile, Partit Demokratiku merged with Alternattiva Demokratika to form ADPD, with the new party contesting the general election last March and receiving 4,747 votes.
Prime Minister Robert Abela
Asked for his assessment on Robert Abela, Buttigieg said that while the current Prime Minister seems intent on cleaning certain issues up, “it is just service polishing while leaving the rot and rust underneath”.
“He’s removing politicians who are liabilities but he’s not removing the engrained lack of responsibility and accountability,” he said. “Just look at the Comino farce and everyday life; it’s a reflection of what’s going on at the top.”
“People can see others getting away with blue murder and think they can do the same. Robert Abela has placed a nice veneer over the rotten wood but the rotten wood is still there.”
Cover photo: Left: Former Italian ambassador to Malta Mario Sammartino, Right: Former Partit Demokratiku leader Anthony Buttigieg
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