NGO Repubblika on Thursday filed a judicial protest against a government bill to reform magisterial inquiries, arguing that it breaches citizens' rights, EU law and the constitution.
In its submission, Repubblika said that allowing citizens to request a magisterial inquiry is deemed crucial as the police have consistently failed to carry out their own investigations.
Were it not for magisterial inquiries, corruption proceedings against former prime minister Joseph Muscat, former chief of staff Keith Schembri, and former minister Konrad Mizzi would not have taken place. Similarly, proceedings related to Allied Newspapers, the three hospitals' deal and the power station deal would not have started.
On Wednesday, the second reading of the bill was passed in Parliament, with the Opposition voting against.
Repubblika quaoted European law stating that each member state is obliged to safeguard the rule of law and to follow the principle of non-regression, meaning that a member state cannot introduce laws that weaken the rule of law.
Malta's constitution clearly states that Parliament must create laws that adhere to European Law, therefore, leading the bill to be in breach of the constitution as well.
Labour Party calls civil society group Repubblika 'extremist'
The Labour Party, in reaction, took aim at NGO Repubblika, calling the group an "extremist NGO."
"There is absolutely no doubt about their intentions: The reason behind their crusade against the magisterial inquiry reform is to use the tools of justice to commit injustice against the Maltese and Gozitan citizens," the Labour Party claimed.
"They want any type of allegation, whatever it is and wherever it is made, as Bernard Grech confirmed yesterday, to be used to wreak havoc to peoples lives. And in yet another demonstration of gross double standards, the extremist faction wants that in the case of magisterial inquiries, a person with any allegation immediately goes to a magistrate, not to the Police. But then, when the judiciary decides the opposite of what they want, they attack it mercilessly, as they have done in the past few hours. The author of the judicial protest is none other than Jason Azzopardi, the same person who, a few hours ago, launched an unprecedented attack on two magistrates."
"The mask has long since fallen. Their interest is not that justice be done and done fairly, but to crucify people. A hysterical and extreme position that the people have rejected and will reject again. The extremists have taken absolute control of the Nationalist Party and are suffocating it."