Vigil remembers Daphne Caruana Galizia amid political turmoil

People have gathered in Valletta for a monthly vigil in rememberance of assassinated journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

The vigil, marking 26 months since since she was slain by a car-bomb, takes place amid continuing political upheaval resulting from the revelations emerging from the investigation into her murder.

It also comes after weeks of protests demaning the immediate resignation of Joseph Muscat, and as the compilation of evidence against Yorgen Schembri - the man charged with masterminding her murder - continues in court on Thursday.

'Joseph Muscat has ruined Christmas'

Addressing the gathering, Repubblika president Vicki Ann Cremona said that civil society had no intention to ruin Christmas.

It was Caruana Galizia's family for which Christmas had been ruined for the past two years, because they had been left without a mother, wife, daughter and sister, Cremona said.

Christmas, she said, had been ruined by Joseph Muscat and his associates by them not wanting to leave Castille and Parliament.

"If they want us to enjoy Christmas, they know what they should do," Cremona said, "Joseph Muscat must leave now."

Cremona insisted that, once he did leave, Muscat and his gang should be investigated by the police.

Everything changed in a month

Activist and blogger Manuel Delia said that, in the space of a month since the last vigil was held in November, the situation completely.

"Yorgen Fenech was arrested, Melvin Theuma admitted to his role, Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri resigned, and Joseph Muscat gave his notice," Delia said.

However, he said, justice had not been done yet, since Mizzi was still an MP sending Christmas cards to his constituents, Schembri was at home being briefed on the goings on in Castille by OPM official Neville Gafa, and Muscat remained Prime Minister.

"We need to emerge from this knowing we have an independent police force, prosecutor, judiciary, independent parliamentarians and a president who in time of crisis knows how to guide the country," Delia said.

"These institutions are failing us. This is why we are protesting."