The opposition tabled a motion in parliament today to revoke former General Worker’s Union general secretary, Tony Zarb's Gieh ir-Repubblika award.
This follows controversy caused by Zarb when he was recorded as saying "keep messing around, keep placing flowers, you can adore her, but the important thing for our Malta is that she will never be back,” referring to the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia and the make-shift memorial.
The motion accuses Zarb of making statements amounting to apologist remarks with regards to Caruana Galizia's death. It also argues that Zarb's video makes one think that had he been able to stop the murder from happening, he would not have acted, whilst at the same time justifying what the three alleged murderers did.
The motion also accuses him of cultivating an environment through which attacks on journalists flourish, multiply and are acceptable.
Also stated in the motion is the accusation that Zarb is trying to kill important values in the Maltese Constitution, particularly the right to life.
Finally, it condemns him for not leading by example as a recipient of the highest honour in the country.
The motion was signed by Opposition Leader Adrian Delia and Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi. It was also approved by all the PN parliamentary group.
Following the presentation of the motion to speaker Anglu Farrugia, Adrian Delia said that someone who has received such a high honour should lead by example and not perpetrate ‘divisive speech’.
Delia also said that he condemned all hatred and that the opposition was completely united to remove hatred.
When questioned by The Malta Independent if he thinks he will have enough majority for the motion to pass, Delia replied that he believes there will be Government MPs who will fight for what is right.
He further said that those who voted against the motion would be condoning hate speech.
Noting that previously hate speech was condemned by all it was now time to take action. "When something like this happens we need to take action so the public does not think this is tolerable or acceptable,” Delia continued.