MEPs from across political groups have expressed their concern and demanded that the European Commission monitors the ongoing investigation into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, as well as supports the Caruana Galizia family’s request for an independent public inquiry. This comes after Partit Nazzjonalista Head of Delegation David Casa made a similar request on Monday.

In a letter to the European Commission, the MEPs listed the facts they consider pertinent to the need for a public inquiry into the role of the Maltese State in the assassination. The MEPs stated: “Politicians exposed by Daphne Caruana Galizia’s reporting to be involved in corruption and money laundering continue to hold public office. Keith Schembri, the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff and  Konrad Mizzi, the Tourism Minister, were exposed by the Panama Papers leak as the UBOs of offshore companies into which they planned to funnel exorbitant funds that could not be legitimately explained.”

The MEPs referred to the Daphne Project story that reported that Minister Chris Cardona was seen in the company of at least one of the alleged assassins both before and after the assassination. They also noted that Daphne Caruana Galizia’s death enabled Cardona to drop libel proceedings thus preventing conclusive evidence that could have confirmed Daphne Caruana Galizia’s brothel allegations to remain concealed.

On the latest Daphne Project revelations, the MEPs said: “The Daphne Project revealed that Cardona was present at an intimate gathering with one of the alleged assassins prior to the assassination in 2017. The Daphne Project also revealed that despite the Maltese Secret Service having placed the alleged assassins under surveillance prior to the assassination, the records of this surveillance were, at least until May 2018, withheld from the then inquiring magistrate Anthony Vella. who has been promoted to judge in June 2017, preventing him from continuing his investigation into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia.”

The letter was co-signed by MEP David Casa, MEP Ana Gomes (S&D), MEP Monica Macovei (ECR), MEP Maite Pagazaurtundúa (ALDE), and MEP Stelios Kouloglou (GUE/NGL).