Labour ‘cannot pretend it heard nothing’ from Fenech trial – PL President
Labour Party president Alex Sciberras has said the party cannot pretend it “heard nothing” from the Yorgen Fenech trial, while stopping short of commenting on his acquittal. Speaking at the close of the Labour Party’s general conference, Sciberras said he had heard “things that do not reflect the values that we believe in”. The two-month trial exposed links between business figures, politicians and senior officials at government agencies and regulators. Sciberras said defending Labour did not mean defending everything done in its name, arguing that “silence does not mean loyalty”. He said loyalty instead meant wanting the best for the party and being prepared to offer uncomfortable opinions when necessary. He did not identify specific evidence or testimony from the trial, which ended with Fenech being acquitted of conspiring to murder journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. (Times of Malta)
PN pledges to represent those left behind by economic growth
Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg has said the PN will be the voice of people who are not benefiting from Malta’s economic growth but still deserve a dignified life. Speaking at a conference on social issues organised by PN MP Ivan Bartolo, Borg said the economy should serve people rather than the other way around. He highlighted people at risk of poverty who, he said, can fall through the cracks between Budgets. Borg also referred to what he called an “epidemic of solitude” affecting people from different backgrounds. The Opposition leader said the PN had proposed a national strategy to address solitude. Bartolo warned that thousands of people remain at risk of poverty and called for greater sympathy towards those affected. He also urged people not to blame individuals for their circumstances, arguing that poverty should be addressed through support rather than judgement.
Caruana Galizia says justice system ‘collapsing bit by bit’
Matthew Caruana Galizia has warned that Malta’s judicial system is “collapsing bit by bit”, saying reforms had allowed the trial into his mother’s assassination to take place but the system ultimately failed when tested. Speaking at a protest concert in Valletta following Yorgen Fenech’s acquittal, he criticised the handling of secret recordings that he said contained important evidence for the prosecution. Despite efforts to secure the recordings, he said they were practically inaudible in court, comparing the experience to preparing for the Olympics before entering the race in flip-flops. Caruana Galizia also accused opponents of his mother of having influenced public opinion, including among jurors. The Concert for Justice brought together artists, activists and civil society groups calling for accountability and implementation of the public inquiry’s recommendations. MEIA’s Nicole Debono said freedom of expression was fundamental to artistic work and democratic participation.
