Prime Minister Robert Abela has apologised for the shortcomings by the State that led to the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Abela is addressing a press conference on the same day that the report by public inquiry into the journalist’s murder was published.

He also pledged to implement all the recommendations made by the inquiry board, including on the protection of journalists.

The PM said he had called on Parliament to convene on Friday to discuss the report. “While we still need to analyse the report in detail, I am in a position to be very clear in principle. We must learn the lessons found in this report and will start the process to implement its recommendations.”

“No one expected the impact of what happened in October 2017 to go away overnight. This is a wound that will heal slowly, and we must never fall for the temptation of forgetting what happened.  More than a way of reacting, this report should be another step in this process of healing.”

Abela noted that the report found no evidence that the State was directly involved in the assassination. In another part, it says there is no evidence in this regard and allegations to this effect were discarded. 

“But it says there were serious shortcomings by the state, which led to what happened. I became PM almost a year after the inquiry started but I am the Prime Minister, nonetheless. I have to be the one to make an apology, first and foremost to the family, but also to all those who were negatively affected by these shortcomings.”

Abela said the process to elect a new PM was carried out so that the country could start a new page. “We did not wait for the report to come out. The reforms led to a revolution. I removed powers no PM before me was willing to give up. I did this with a sense of conviction. The board has welcomed these reforms.”

The PM said we must continue striving for justice.

What happened over the past months is proof that our justice system does not discriminate, he said. “We have a person who has been found guilty and sentenced and six others who are facing criminal proceedings. This shows that no one enjoys immunity or impunity.”

The board, he said, has also acknowledged that police investigations are ongoing.

“I am also informed that the police task force set up to investigate this case is still active.”

The Government will ensure that all resources required are given. “We are doing this because we want justice to be done with the Caruana Galizia family and with the entire population, which believes that no one should be killed over their writing. The assassination was a black mark on our country, and we have to learn from these mistakes.”

He said there will be open consultation on the implementation of the recommendations. “The government will shoulder the responsibility of implementing these recommendations. There is no doubt that we will need to work with the Opposition, particularly on legislative changes.”

Abela said he has invited the Institute of Maltese Journalists (IGM) to start a process to implement the recommendations on strengthening the journalistic profession. “We must act at all times in a spirit of unity and respect. The political class may have contributed to division. Today, more than ever we need to understand that we need to lead by example.”

Fielding questions, Abela said he does not feel that the current administration has lost its legitimacy, insisting that it has a mandate to govern. The government will serve out its mandate to the end, he said.

“We have implemented a raft of reforms. The regulatory authorities are unrecognisable today.” He said the decision to contest for PL leader was driven by the will to bring about change.

The PM also said it is his wish to meet with the Daphne Caruana Galizia family. Abela said the government does not exclude the principle of paying compensation to the family.

Asked if he would kick Joseph Muscat out of the PL, he said his predecessor had stepped down and today occupies no roles in government or the Labour Party.

Asked whether he would act against ministers who formed part of Muscat’s Cabinet, Abela said these are people who have worked tirelessly on good governance reforms.

He said he does not expect any of these Cabinet members to resign because there was no such recommendation in the inquiry report.

He noted that a number of individuals who had been linked to scandals had resigned from government and the Labour Party and did not contest any other elections. “These are our credentials on good governance.”

On his former role as an advisor to Muscat, Abela said there was no reference about this in the inquiry report and he had not even been summoned to testify before the inquiry.