“Whoever is asking for my resignation, in particular, Opposition leader Bernard Grech, should look at the people around him before tabling motions in parliament,” Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said. 

The Malta Independent on Wednesday asked Justice Minister Zammit Lewis whether he believes that his position as Minister remains tenable after personal chats exchanged between Daphne Caruana Galizia murder mastermind Yorgen Fenech and Zammit Lewis, were revealed. The chats which emerged over recent weeks show that the two men were very close. 

“I am not going to resign. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s praise on Malta’s judicial reforms is proof enough that I should not resign,” he said in reply. 

He added that “after today, the Labour party in government, is not only renowned for civil liberties for economic advancements, but it has also been a pillar for reforms within Malta’s rule of law.” 

“Apart from the political will of Prime Minister Robert Abela, it is to my credit that I led these reforms forward. These are reforms that should have taken place around 25 years ago,” Zammit Lewis said. 

Meanwhile, Zammit Lewis was also asked whether he would recuse himself from the Parliamentary Committee for Standards in Public Life whenever the committee discusses an issue related to Yorgen Fenech. 

Currently, the Standards’ Committee is looking into an ethics breach by MP Rosianne Cutajar. The former Parliamentary Secretary allegedly pocketed tens of thousands of euro in a failed property deal she helped broker, in which Fenech was the prospective buyer. The Qormi politician allegedly also received some €9,000 from Fenech as a gift. Cutajar, who lost her Cabinet post in February of this year, denies taking the funds. 

In reply, Zammit Lewis assured that “if there is any kind of conflict of interest, I know what I have to do, and certainly nor you or anyone else will tell me what needs to be done.”