Caruana Galizia murder: Muscat pledges no stone will be left unturned

Opposition leader Adrian Delia did not hold any punches in Parliament this evening laying the blame for Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder squarely on the Prime Minister’s shoulders.

In a special sitting in which the political leaders delivered short messages of condolences to the Caruana Galizia family, Delia used the occasion to call on the Prime Minister to shoulder political responsibility.

Delia blamed the murder on what he described as a collapse of the rule of law that started over the past four years.

Delia insisted on describing this a “political murder”, reiterating his PN leadership campaign message that people were not living in a normal country.

“When the rule of law collapses the law of the jungle prevails and this is what happened today,” Delia said, reiterating the message made earlier in a statement at PN headquarters.

Delia did not say whether he would be accepting Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s invitation to meet and discuss a way forward to ensure the investigations enjoyed the nation’s trust.

Muscat was first to speak, expressing shock at the murder. He said investigative authorities were told resources and budgets should not be a concern in their bid to get to the bottom of the murder.

Muscat announced that American agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigations were on their way to Malta to help in the investigation after government sought the help of the US government.

He said the FBI will help boost Maltese resources and bring with them expertise that was wide-ranging.

Muscat insisted he did not want to respond to the Opposition leader’s “political comments”, adding this was a time for the country to show it was much better than this.

“What happened is unacceptable at all levels and cannot be excused… I stand here today as a Prime Minister of a hurt country. I was a favourite target of Daphne Caruana Galizia but this act is not excusable in any way. It is in everybody’s interest to have this murder solved,” Muscat said.

He then invited Delia to meet and reach consensus on a way forward so that the investigation is conducted in such a way that it will enjoy everybody’s trust.

“I believe common sense can prevail and we should find the methods and mechanisms to ensure that no doubts are cast on the investigation even if this entail appointing an independent inquiry by people who enjoy national trust,” Muscat said.

In a short statement, Democratic Party leader Marlene Farrugia insisted the country was facing a breakdown in rule of law, saying Caruana Galizia died for her country.

Speaker Anglu Farrugia expressed condolences. The sitting was adjourned for tomorrow when Delia is expected to deliver his reaction to the Budget.