Updated 3.45pm
The Labour Party has warned that a move by the European People's Party for a debate to be held in the European Parliament on the latest revelations in the Daphne Caruana Galizia case could harm the judicial process.
The call for debate was made earlier this week, with the EPP referring to testimony by self-confessed hitman Vince Muscat and saying that with the new testimony emerging on the involvement of key officials and politicians, the Malta government faced a profound crisis of credibility in the EU.
Labour MEP Cyrus Engerer said he had no problem debating the rule of law in Malta, given the "unprecedented reforms made under Prime Minister Robert Abela" to ensure that the institutions worked independently.
But he found the request by the PN, which forms part of the EPP, "unbelievable".
"What sense does it make to hold a debate when Vince Muscat is only halfway through giving evidence? One should at least await the end of this phase of the judicial proceedings so that one could hear all sides," he said.
This, he said, was not about wanting the truth to emerge. Had that been the case one would have let the courts do their work, Engerer said. One could then debate the outcome.
This, he said, was clearly an attempt by the PN to influence voters before a general election, harming the country in the process.
Labour MEP Alex Agius Saliba said that while the rest of the European Union is focused on tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, MEPs Metsola and Casa were again focusing on damaging Malta’s reputation by seeking to shift attention to the ongoing Caruana Galizia legal case in Malta.
This, he said, is an unnecessary attack as court proceedings are ongoing, showing that the institutions in Malta are working.
Agius Saliba said he has been in contact with the leadership of the S&D Group who “have all understood” that this is “a vile and useless attack” on the Maltese government”.
At a time when German Conservative ministers belonging to the EPP Group have been proven to be involved in corruption scandals, Manfred Weber backed by Metsola and Casa are seeking to divert Europe’s attention by again opening fire on Malta, Agius Saliba said.
In a Facebook post later, Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola noted that it seemed that former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri is to be charged in court. She said he should have been charged years ago as what he did was known.
On behalf of the Labour government, Schembri had acted against the Maltese people leading attacks against those who uncovered him, stood up to him and sought justice, Metsola said.
He used to believe he had "a monopoly on the truth" and that he was capable of controlling everyone.
Together with others, he orchestrated campaigns against the Nationalist Party, its MPs and colleagues and also against MEPs. Since he had everything to lose, he did not have a limit, she said.
Metsola added that everyone could now understand why, rather than using government structures, he used the Labour Party and Labour MEPS to attempt to intimidate those standing up to him.
The Nationalist Party and civil society had shown they had the backbone to stand up to him, they stood up to criminals who thought they were supreme and they will continue to do the same.
The message to politicians who allowed themselves to be used by repeating the criminals’ mantra was clear, Metsola said.
"They will not knock us down, we will continue to insist on justice."