MALTA IN EXTREMIS; WHOSE HEADS WILL FALL ?

                                           The Conjurer  by COSIMO

 

The refusal of the ruling Labour Party (PL) to implement the reforms detailed in the recently published Public Inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia has thrown the Republic of Malta into a state of public indignation and outrage from which recovery is doubtful so long as the present government remains in power. Previously silent sectors of society have become vocal in a universal call for meaningful change. Only hardcore element of the Pl remain loyal to their government, which appears to be frozen in fear of charging their own leaders with criminal conduct, political and legal suicide. 

To make matters worse, dirty tricks and political stunts obviously the work of PL supporters have outraged the voters, and further alienated the very Maltese who elecged Labour in the last to elections. Allegations of ethical violations, involving attacks upon the PN leaders who would lead the next government, smack of the worst tactics, reminiscent of Dom Mintoff's dark political maneuvers,left over from a period that most Maltese would rather consign to the dustbin of history. 

Whither Malta ? Considering that neither the judiciary, police and AFM, off of whose leaders owe their positions to Joseph Muscat, and most of whom themselves are stained by allegations of systemic corruption, relief cannot come from within the country's institutions. It is humbly suggested that only outside forces, whether from the United Kingdom, European Union, or the United States, will bring down the current government hard, and allow for true reform. 

 At this point, only external pressure, of a criminal nature, will be effective. When will it come ?