2019 Malta political crisis

Protest of Maltese civil society rises at the Auberge de Castille, the office of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat

A political and institutional crisis within the Republic of Malta followed the uncovering of links between government officials and the 2017 assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.[1][2][3] The Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Keith Schembri and Minister for Tourism Konrad Mizzi resigned[4] following the arrest of businessman Yorgen Fenech in connection with the murder.

On 1 December 2019, the Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced his intention to resign[5] on 12 January 2020[6] after increased pressure from 2019 Maltese protests. An EU mission called for his immediate resignation.[7] Constitutional experts, legal bodies and other representatives stated Muscat's decision to remain in office until January 2020 and to have a six week parliamentary recess over Christmas had led to a constitutional crisis.[8][9]

  1. ^ "'Keith Schembri told me phone was being tapped, tried to send notes' - Fenech". Times of Malta. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  2. ^ Rankin, Jennifer (5 December 2019). "Suspect in Daphne Caruana Galizia murder says he got tipoffs from official". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  3. ^ Welle, Deutsche (5 December 2019). "How a journalist's murder haunts Malta's ruling elite". DW.COM. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  4. ^ Garside, Juliette (26 November 2019). "Maltese PM's aide and minister quit amid turmoil over journalist's murder". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  5. ^ Higgins, Andrew (1 December 2019). "Malta Leader Says He Will Resign, as Murder Inquiry Widens". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  6. ^ "Muscat to step down as Prime Minister after January 12". Times of Malta. December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  7. ^ Rankin, Jennifer (3 December 2019). "EU mission tells Malta PM to quit immediately over Caruana Galizia case". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  8. ^ Aquilina, Kevin (7 December 2019). "This is a constitutional crisis par excellence". Times of Malta. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  9. ^ Calleja, Stephen (2 December 2019). "Protesters block Malta's leader from leaving Parliament". AP. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.