At the time of writing, Joseph Muscat is still Prime Minister. Despite their claims not to make any diabolical pact to sell our country, and to deliver full justice and restore integrity to our country’s institutions, potential party leaders, Fearne and Abela, are seen embracing Joseph Muscat, who holds ultimate responsibility for the present debacle.

One may be forgiven for doubting one’s sanity. On the one hand, there is an international community reporting on the downgrading of Malta’s civic freedoms in the global index and on how Malta is now seen as a symbol of the rule of law crisis in the EU. Multiple calls for the immediate resignation of Joseph Muscat are being made daily both in Malta and across Europe. On the other hand, the Labour spin machine is on overdrive, instructing its faithful to flood mainstream and social media to falsely claim that the protesters taking to the streets and demanding Muscat’s resignation are just disgruntled PN voters, jealous of the PL’s success that, it asserts, makes Malta the envy of the world.

In the meantime, Keith Schembri remains comfortably ensconced in his villa, enjoying daily visits by his buddy Neville Gafa’who is also on excellent terms with Joseph Muscat. Konrad Mizzi is still an MP, and his tourism portfolio remains unattributed. Chris Cardona keeps himself in a state of un-suspension.

Dr Fearne’s latest publicity states that with him at the helm, the PL will remain in power for many years to come.  Will the blinkered voter, thereafter, continue to be rewarded with the iced buns that up to now, have been dished out at the expense of true justice and meritocracy?

Dr Abela has gone on record to say that protesters are merely trying to ‘provoke’. Provoke what, exactly? Provoke who? Since when has the right to protest become a provocation?

In the present deplorable circumstances, exercising the right to protest may be considered a duty. Dr Abela’s call is reminiscent of the old battle cry ‘Min mhux maghna, kontra taghna’ (who is not with us is against us), when in fact he should be demanding honesty, truth and justice from those within his government who are harming the country through their lies and deceit.  Malta does not need this kind of talk at such a critical moment. The country needs a leader who is clearly determined to restore justice whatever the cost, especially in light of the revelations in court of the horrific corruption at the very heart of government. Joseph Muscat has not delivered on his promise to eradicate corruption; on the contrary, he appears to be right in the thick of it.

I was there when Moviment Graffitti were locked inside Castille. I was there when foreign journalists emphatically denied the superintendent’s claim that they had been asked to vacate the premises – they had been pushed out. I was there when a policeman manhandled Corinne Vella, one of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s sisters, a woman half his size. And it was me that the policeman tried to push away when I placed myself between him and Corinne. At no time did the protesters behave violently.

Repubblika, #occupyjustice and manueldelia.com have organised many protests over the last 26 months and always emphatically insisted that violence is NOT the way forward, nor do they condone it by anyone else. Malta is still rockedby the violence of the bomb that shook the very foundations of these islands on 16 October 2017.

No amount of lies and fake news will persuade honest and discerning people that these protests have a hidden or ulterior motive.

Tomorrow, being the 16th of the month, just as we have done since November 2017, we will gather in front of the Law Courts to remind the world that justice has not been served.

Join us in claiming our country back in the name of truth and justice.

Rachel Williams is a member of Repubblika’s Executive Committee