Repubblika Concerned By Prime Minister’s ‘Authoritarian And Fascist’ Statements
Civil society group Repubblika has voiced concerns about the rhetoric being used by Prime Minister Robert Abela in relation to the Vitals inquiry, describing it as “authoritarian and fascist”.
The group’s statement comes a day after charges against a number of past and present government officials and civil servants were submitted in court. Abela held a press conference later in the evening in which he repeatedly cast doubts on the findings of the inquiry’s findings and the manner in which it was led.
The Prime Minister’s words, Repubblika said, have been echoed by senior government minsters, including Justice Minister Jonathan Attard and Interior Minister Byron Camilleri, as well as many proponents of the Labour party who have all taken aim at the magistrate who led the inquiry.
“This attack is being directed at every member of the judiciary, the police as well as the prosecution who are merely acting in accordance with the law and the inquiry’s findings,” the group said.
“Even before new of the inquiry conclusion broke, Prime Minister Robert Abela started a public, planned and forceful campaign targeting the investigating magistrate, branding her a ‘member of the establishment’.”
Repubblika went on to accuse the Labour Party of making the magistrate a “target for hatred and intimidation and exposing her to a clear risk of violence” by publishing her on photo online.
“We are seeing a renewed organised effort by the Office of the Prime Minister, led by the person who occupies it, to discredit anyone who takes evidence of graft and corruption to its logical and legal conclusion by threatening, intimidating them, and ensuring that individuals with a reasonable suspicion of committing crimes and corruption, and the political figures close to them, continue to enjoy impunity,” Repubblika said.
“The Daphne Caruana Galizia Inquiry found that this behavior caused her murder for which the Inquiry found the Maltese state responsible.”
Finally, Repubblika accused the Prime Minister of misreading the Constitution when he claimed that it was his role to act as one of the checks and balances over the institutions.
“This is a power that the Constitution, which requires the separation of powers, explicitly does not want to be in the hands of the executive, especially when considering that this obtrusive government intervention aims to protect individuals with political power from criminal prosecution,” Repubblika said, adding that Abela’s behaviour constituted a “blatant assault” on the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.
“As civil society activists working for democracy and the rule of law, we cannot remain silent in the face of his aggression by the Prime Minister against the independence of the judiciary and the principle that everyone is equal under the law to protect his and his party’s interests. We will resist this attack and will defend state officials who have a conscience,” the group concluded.
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