Civil society NGO Repubblika has warned the Prime Minister that it will report his “abuse” to foreign embassies and international organisations unless he “withdraws his threats.”

Repubblika said it was convinced that Robert Abela was behind the letter it received from the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations, who said the NGO could be struck off the register for breaching its statute. The commission’s lawyer questioned Repubblika’s financing and said it was also in breach of the NGO law by pushing forward “political propaganda.” The group said this was an attempt to silence it.

Speaking at a press conference in front of Castille, Repubblika President Robert Aquilina said insisted that all income and donations were above board and that the government wanted to silene the NGO for being critical of the authorities.

The fact that this happened a few days after the NGO started holding anti-corruption protests showed that this was no coincidence, he said.

“We are morally convinced that Robert Abela’s government is behind this – it is responding to mounting pressure by adopting fascist and desperate tactics.”

This was the same “disgusting” strategy used against Daphne Caruana Galizia, Aquilina said.

“Through this letter, they are telling us that if we don’t bow down to their dictatorship, we will be sent to jail before Keith Schembri, Konrad Mizzi and all others involved in Daphne’s murder.”

“It is clear that Robert Abela cannot take criticism. It is clear that he has not yet understood that he is a Prime Minister and not a prince .. that he took an oath as the head of government in a democratic country and not a totalitarian and fascist state.”

Aquilina said Repubblika will be responding to these treats by greater determination to rid the country from the criminal tentacles that have taken over.

If the PM does not swiftly withdraw these threats, Repubblika will be writing to the embassies and consulates, the European Commission and other international organisations.

He reminded Abela of what happened to his predecessor when he had challenged public opinion, adding that the PM still has time to choose to serve democracy. 

Repubblika is here to stay, Aquilina said.