Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia will be given a final farewell today, with thousands expected to attend the funeral in Mosta. Daphne was killed in a car bomb explosion on 16 October.
The government has declared today as a national day of mourning, as a 'sign that no attack on freedom of expression is accepted in Malta’s democracy.’ Flags on all government buildings are being flown at half-mast.
Daphne Caruana Galizia's family have made it clear that they did not want the media to cover the funeral, which starts at 2pm. A number of dignitaries will be attending, including European President Antonio Tajani. The EP president had invited Daphne’s family to Brussels.
But Malta’s top three political leaders will not be attending the funeral.
Photo Michael Camilleri
A spokesperson for the President said: “The Office of the President can confirm that Her Excellency expressed her wish to attend Mrs Daphne Caruana Galizia's funeral, however, the family, through a third party, affirmed that the presence of Her Excellency was not desired.”
The Prime Minister will also not be attending. A spokesman for the PM told The Malta Independent that "The family has made it widely known that it does not wish the state authorities to attend."
Opposition Leader Adrian Delia who, like the PM was the subject of Daphne’s writings, will also be staying away.
A murder that changed Malta
Everything changed on Monday 16 October afternoon when the news broke out that Malta's most popular journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed in a car bomb in Bidnija.
With the reactions of disbelief, came anger - anger towards the authorities for failing to protect Daphne Caruana Galizia, to protect freedom of speech.
A number of silent protests and national demonstrations have been held, with more planned, calling for the resignation of Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar and Attorney General Peter Grech.
Daphne's death was not only mourned locally. Several vigils were held abroad, including one in London, just yesterday.
The news of Daphne's murder spread like wildfire in the foreign media and news reports describing “the death of a journalist who exposed major corrupion” was on hundreds of different newspapers from all across the globe.
International news agencies and other media have also been reporting how Caruana Galizia — described as a ‘one-woman WikiLeaks’ by the influential political journal Politico— had uncovered jaw-dropping levels of corruption, especially through her work on the Panama Papers. Her achievements have also been praised, particularly her inclusion in Politico’s 28 people “transforming European politics, policy and ideas.”
The police say they are taking the investigation seriously and have brought in foreign forensic experts to help but faith in the police force is at an all-time low, especially after that disastrous crime conference.
The police are focusing heavily on a fuel-smuggling ring in which former national football player Darren Debono is involved. Debono is currently under arrest in Italy. The Maltese police yesterday denied reports that they had asked for his extradition.
Several international media speculated about possible links between fuel smuggling and Daphne’s murder, especially since Caruana Galizia had written several articles on the subject, But others believe that the fuel-smuggling link is just a way for the authorities to deviate attention away from the ‘real story.’