A group of prominent Maltese artists are currently circulating a petition letter to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat asking him to remove Valletta 2018 Chairman Jason Micallef, The Malta Independent on Sunday has learnt.
This petition letter, which was also addressed to the Minister for Culture Owen Bonnici and Parliamentary Secretary for Valletta 2018 Deo Debattista, states that local artists are unhappy with Micallef’s behaviour and comments on the murder of assassinated journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, and his frequent comments attacking artists who try to criticise elements of the V18 or disagree with the government.
The artists are of the belief that Micallef is no longer fit for purpose and that his behaviour, by default, does not represent ethos the European Capital of Culture.
The scathing letter states: “We, artists, curators and arts managers write to you to express our concern that the legacy of Valletta 2018 as European Capital of Culture is seriously jeopardised by the actions of Mr Jason Micallef, Chairman of the Valletta 2018 Foundation.
“His ongoing derogatory public comments about the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia do not reflect the European objectives and principles of the Capital of Culture initiative. As chairman of Valletta 2018 Foundation, Mr Micallef has been appointed by you to represent a European project, including ourselves, as laid out in European legislation. The role of a chairman of a European Capital of Culture cannot be partisan in attitude and purposely divisive in action.”
The letter goes on to recall how Micallef, on a number of occasions, “used his role as Chairman of the European Capital of Culture to publicly ridicule and attack artists who criticised and satirised those in power. His role as Chairman should be to safeguard this right, not to threaten it. Using artists, culture and Valletta 2018 for political expedience is shocking and outrageous.
“The irresponsible and embarrassing actions of Mr Micallef are causing irreparable damage to the reputation, programme and leadership of Valletta 2018. This is a legacy that the Maltese cultural sector does not need or want. We, the undersigned reiterate the call for Mr Micallef's immediate resignation. “
Earlier this week a group of international writers from PEN International, including names such as Salman Rushdie, Neil Gaiman and Margaret Atwood also slammed Micallef in an open letter to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, and Director of Creative Europe Michel Magnier.
They wrote “to express profound concern with developments in Malta in the context of the investigation into her (Daphne Caruana Galizia) assassination, and in particular regarding the behaviour of the management of Valletta 2018, the European Capital of Culture”.
PEN International noted that the Maltese authorities have not attempted to protect the slain journalist’s memorial: “In particular, we are outraged by the comments of Jason Micallef, Chairman of the Valletta 2018 Foundation, and as such the Capital of Culture’s official representative in Malta. Since her assassination, Micallef has repeatedly and publicly attacked and ridiculed Daphne Caruana Galizia on social media, ordered the removal of banners calling for justice for her death and called for her temporary memorial to be cleared. This is far from appropriate behaviour for an official designated to represent the European Capital of Culture, and in fact serves to further the interests of those trying to prevent an effective and impartial investigation into Caruana Galizia’s death.”
Joining PEN’s statement, 72 MEPs from across political groups have described Micallef’s behaviour as undignified and unacceptable and called for his immediate removal from the post of Chairman of Valletta 2018. The initiative behind this statement came from PN MEP David Casa together with five other European parliamentarians.
The statement noted: “We share the outrage expressed in this letter. The vilification of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, even after her assassination, and the calls for the clearing of the memorial in her tribute in Valletta and for banners demanding justice to be removed are actions that we consider incompatible with those of an official that represents the European Capital of Culture.
“It has been noted that merely hours after this PEN letter was published, Jason Micallef proceeded to continue with his outbursts on social media and ordered banners put up by Maltese civil society calling for justice, to be removed. We strongly condemn these undignified and unacceptable actions and call on the European Commission to demand that Mr Micallef be immediately removed from the post of Chairman of Valletta 2018 Capital of Culture”.
After PEN’s declarations, this newsroom yesterday published a story saying that the questions sent to Minister Bonnici and to the V18 chairman himself remained unanswered.
Since his appointment as Valletta 2018 Chairman Micallef systematically used his Facebook page to spew controversial comments attacking artists, politicians, journalists and activists. Apart from Caruana Galizia herself, Micallef has also attacked members of her family.
Last month after Micallef uploaded a picture of the crowds gathered in St Julian's to celebrate St Patrick's Day, and in a twist of the last words written by the assassinated journalist, “St Patrick's Day in Malta. The situation is desperate. There are happy people everywhere you look,” this newsroom had asked Minister Bonnici for a reaction.
Bonnici, however, defended Micallef, explaining that he felt the issue was a matter of freedom of expression. He did, however, also urge caution in the type of discourse that public officials use.
Bonnici this time remained silent on the criticism levelled at Micallef.
Nationalist Party MEP David Casa criticised Micallef on social media commenting that his behaviour is "monstrously incompatible with his role as an official representing the European Capital of Culture".