While the jurors' not guilty verdict for Yorgen Fenech must be respected, "we must see that justice is served and that the mastermind or masterminds are behind bars," Opposition Leader Alex Borg said.

In a brief one-on-one interview with The Malta Independent on Sunday, Borg told this newsroom that the PN is exerting pressure for justice to be served, for democratic reforms to be done so that national institutions "really work," and so that the mastermind/s behind Daphne Caruana Galizia's assassination "get the justice they deserve."

"There is still no justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia, after nine years, because the mastermind/s behind her murder are still running free," he said.

Borg refused to share his personal opinion behind the decision to acquit Fenech, stating that he would be lacking in his constitutional role as Opposition leader if he does so. He noted however that he understands the Caruana Galizia family's position on this (they believe Fenech should have been deemed guilty and subsequently imprisoned).

Neither did Borg give any comments on whether a retrial should take place, saying that he'll leave this to the lawyers involved.

"I am here to see that our institutions truly work; that the separation of the institutions continues to be strengthened; and for necessary long overdue reforms to be made," Borg said.

He reiterated that the Nationalist Party did not wish to use Fenech's trial for political gain as he personally feared that this could have affected proceedings. This is why the PN did not speak up while the case was ongoing. However, he noted that, once the verdict was given, "we as the Opposition wouldn't have done our part if we didn't speak up and state the way forward that we desire."

Borg said that the PN is pushing for justice to be served and for reforms to be made to improve the state of Malta's rule of law; in promoting national institutions' ability to function; in bolstering the separation between institutions and the government; and in implementing democratic reforms, especially the recommendations listed in Caruana Galizia's public inquiry report, "so that our country can keep growing democratically stronger."

He said that this includes for some "necessary, long overdue" reforms to be made.

During a press briefing on Wednesday, Borg mentioned some of the main reforms from the 2021 public inquiry report that he would like to see implemented sooner rather than later. These are for the enactment of legislation covering unexplained wealth; anti-SLAPP legislation to offer full coverage to effectively protect local journalists; and for political influence in judicial proceedings to be made a crime under Maltese law.

The Opposition leader insisted that the public inquiry recommendations should be implemented as soon as possible. Two days after the trial, Parliament was convened urgently upon the request of the Opposition, before the scheduled termination of its summer recess, to discuss Malta's democratic situation following Fenech's acquittal. The Opposition's attempt to have a motion forcing the government to implement the Daphne public inquiry recommendations by the end of October was turned down by the government.

During this interview, the PN leader was asked whether revising the country's jury system is one of these desired reforms. While stating that he will never reject a pitched reform without consideration, Borg said that "there are more crucial priorities" at hand and repeated that judicial processes must be respected.

He also didn't answer whether he believes former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat should be investigated by police, after he was mentioned as the "very important person" in the Fenech trial to have allegedly bridged contact between Keith Schembri and Fenech's defence team just days before Schembri took to the witness stand. "They must see about that through what emerged in the witness testimonies," Borg said.

The Opposition Leader expressed his concern that the current Minister for Home Affairs, Glenn Bedingfield, "just a few years ago, let's not forget, used to use his blog to attack, among others, Daphne Caruana Galizia."

On this, he declared that Prime Minister Robert Abela must now decide whether "he feels comfortable working alongside him."

Borg did not explicitly state whether the PN will be exerting pressure for Minister Bedingfield to be axed or shifted away from his ministerial role.

Following comments he made last Sunday on these concerns he holds, Borg was queried on whether the PN would like to see Minister Bedingfield moved away from this role, despite him only being sworn in as Home Affairs Minister some three months ago.

Borg said that Bedingfield was identified in Caruana Galizia's public inquiry report for being a "crucial point" in the attacks she faced before her homicide, as well as being the person "to create the laptop story."

"These are things that worry me. He is now the minister in charge of the police, who are investigating everything we have before us," Borg stated. "That raises many questions, but at the end of the day, the Prime Minister must decide if he feels comfortable or not working with Minister Glenn Bedingfield."

Borg reiterated the PN's appeal for Attorney General Victoria Buttigieg to resign from her role but stopped short at demanding the same for Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà when pressed. Instead, he had said that the people could decide on this for themselves.

When asked about this, Borg stated that "we have an issue where the system is not functioning, it is not giving rise for the separation of institutions. If a person changes and is put into this same system, that is a cardinal point of great deficiency."

In this regard, he also cited former Prime Minister Muscat that, "if you don't fight corruption, you are corrupt," noting that "that gives a response to every answer you have regarding persons and officials that are leading institutions that lacked in their duties."

In 2024, the Nationalist Party had called upon the government to not extend Commissioner Gafà's tenure in charge of the Malta Police Force. When asked what has changed since then, Borg replied that "nothing in particular has changed," though observed that "at no moment did I ever say that I support Angelo Gafà."

Borg believes that there are police fulfilling their duties with good will, as they are meant to, "and we must support them," and others who are "seriously lacking from taking the necessary steps for justice to be served and for the necessary investigations to be done." He stressed that one cannot generalise whether all police are good or bad, but rather "we must see that everyone is carrying out their work as they are meant to."

In this regard, he referred to Fenech's trial and information that emerged from it that suggested, in his words, "that there might have been deficiencies from police investigating as they were supposed to, during the preliminary investigations that happened before the trial by jury."

Borg noted that the PN will be analysing whether the investigations into third parties who might be connected with this homicide, from Fenech's trial, are done as they are meant to, and that it will hope for these not to take any longer than necessary considering that nearly nine full years have passed since Caruana Galizia's assassination.