The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, called on the Maltese authorities, on Friday 29 November, to guarantee the independence of the investigation into the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, as the political crisis on the Mediterranean island intensified to the point of bringing down Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.
In a letter to the Maltese government made public, Ms Mijatović expressed concern about allegations of political interference in the investigation. The Maltese government must refrain from "any action which would prevent the investigation from being or being seen as fully independent", she insists, referring to the European Convention on Human Rights on the requirement of an effective and independent investigation in the event of suspicious death (Article 2), as well as to Recommendation 2016/4 of the Committee of Ministers on the safety of journalists.
"The investigations into the murder have always been free from any political interference," Maltese Justice Minister Owen Bonnici assured in his response dated Wednesday, November 27. This is evidenced by the FBI's involvement at the beginning of the investigations and the "constant contact with EUROPOL which has access to the investigation".
Joseph Muscat in turmoil
On the ground, the investigation into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia took an even more political turn on Friday when, according to the Times of Malta newspaper, which quoted government sources, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was about to resign.
Calls for resignation increased all day long against Joseph Muscat, accused by Daphne Caruana Galizia's family of having intervened in the investigation into her murder. The Maltese Prime Minister reportedly protected his chief of staff, Keith Schembri, who was released on Thursday 28 November, and refused to pardon a businessman who was willing to give information about the murder.
At the time of going to press, Mr Muscat had not yet resigned.
The European Parliament will send a second mission on respect for the rule of law on the island (see EUROPE 12379/32). (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc with Solenn Paulic)