Malta could face “repeated instances of high-level corruption” unless it strengthens the rule of law and protections for journalists, Labour peer Shami Chakrabarti said at the start of an inquiry into judicial failures following Daphne Caruana Galizia’s death. Chakrabarti, a member of the House of Lords and former director of the human rights group Liberty, has been appointed special rapporteur for a Council of Europe investigation into the aftermath of the assassination of the anti-corruption journalist, who died in a car bombing in October 2017. Malta is in turmoil after the acquittal of Yorgen Fenech, a wealthy and politically influential businessman, on charges of involvement in Caruana Galizia’s murder. Fenech denies paying a middleman €150,000 to have her killed. At the inquiry’s first hearing on Wednesday, Chakrabarti said the verdict had “staggered many throughout Maltese society and beyond.” Shami Chakrabarti: ‘Atmosphere of utter disbelief at how the jury could have reached such a decision.’ Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA “It’s now almost nine years since the assassination that struck at the very heart of Maltese public life, but a mastermind has not yet been held accountable,” she added. The first witnesses on Wednesday were the journalist’s eldest son, Matthew Caruana Galizia, and her sister Corinne Vella, who questioned the verdict, which dismissed both charges against Fenech by an 8-1 majority. Sabotage, leaks and political ties: the story of the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder trial Read more Matthew Caruana Galizia told members of the council’s committee on legal affairs and human rights: “The Maltese public have seen all of the evidence against the accused, and the vast majority were convinced of his complicity in the murder. And this is why there is this atmosphere of utter disbelief at how the jury could have reached such a decision.” Malta’s state prosecutor is understood to be preparing an appeal, with the aim of securing a retrial. The Council of Europe, founded in 1949 after the second world war, created the European convention on human rights. It is led by an assembly drawn from members of the parliaments of its 46 member states. During the hearing, representatives expressed shock and concern about the verdict, calling for the European parliament and the European Commission to intervene. Iulian Bulai, a Romanian centre-right politician, suggested the EU could withhold funds from Malta. The procedure, known as the rule of law conditionality mechanism, was first used in 2022, against Hungary. “If there is such a huge problem in the matter of rule of law and the functioning of Maltese institutions, the EU should apply a similar procedure to increase pressure for reform,” said Bulai. He said the procedure had “functioned in other cases … So why shouldn’t it function in Malta’s case?” Daphne Caruana Galizia pictured in 2011. Photograph: Darrin Zammit Lupi/Reuters Malta, the EU’s smallest member state, with a population of 600,000, is a net recipient of EU money. Analysis suggests that since joining the bloc 22 years ago, the island has received €2.4bn more in subsidies than it has paid in. Chakrabarti said she would look at why Malta had failed to implement many of the recommendations from a public inquiry held after the murder. “The targeted assassination of a journalist in the middle of investigating high-level corruption sent a chill down the spine of everyone who cares about democratic values,” she said. “Many claim that the legal and policy changes needed to protect journalists, combat corruption and ensure the independent functioning of justice have not been carried out. “I’m extremely concerned by the apparent absence of reforms in critical areas which make Malta vulnerable to repeated instances of high-level corruption and limit the press freedom which should hold it in check.” Yorgen FenechAfter his acquittal, he left the courthouse in Valletta on 2 September. Photograph: Kevin Schembri Orland/AP
The public inquiry found that although there was no evidence the Maltese state had a direct role in the murder, it was responsible for creating a climate of impunity. It recommended Italian-style anti-mafia laws and making it a crime for public officials to obstruct police investigations or abuse their office. These measures have not yet been implemented.
Chakrabarti compared the Caruana Galizia case to miscarriages of justice in the UK, where officials had been involved in cover-ups, citing the mismanagement of Grenfell Tower, the Post Office scandal, and the Hillsborough football stadium disaster. She said her inquiry, titled Justice Delayed: The Unfinished Implementation of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Case, was likely to conclude within a year.
Vella said fear that serious crimes could go unpunished had grown since the verdict. “Before the verdict was given, we lived in a country where a journalist was killed, but there was a chance of ending impunity. That disappeared as soon as the verdict was out.”
She said journalists who had continued to investigate corruption allegations involving former members of Malta’s government “felt uneasy walking to their own cars following that verdict.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs regarding the political crisis in Malta following the Daphne Caruana Galizia verdict
Who was Daphne Caruana Galizia
She was a Maltese journalist and blogger known for investigating corruption money laundering and organized crime She was killed by a car bomb in October 2017
What was the recent verdict that caused the crisis
In October 2025 a jury acquitted Yorgen Fenech the businessman accused of being the mastermind behind her murder He was found not guilty on all charges related to the assassination
Why is there utter disbelief over the verdict
Many people including the victims family and international observers were shocked because Fenech had been the primary suspect for years The acquittal felt like a failure of justice to those who expected a conviction
What does corruption crisis mean in this context
It refers to the widespread belief that Maltas institutionspolice courts and governmentare unable or unwilling to hold powerful people accountable The verdict has deepened distrust in the rule of law
Who is Yorgen Fenech
He is a wealthy Maltese businessman who owned a casino and was a director of the company that ran a gas power station He was arrested in 2019 and charged with complicity in the murder
Did anyone else go to prison for the murder
Yes Three menthe brothers Alfred and George Degiorgio and Vince Muscatwere convicted of carrying out the bombing Muscat admitted guilt and testified against the others
What is the 17 Black scandal
It is a secret company in Dubai that Fenech owned Leaked documents suggested it was meant to pay millions to two Maltese government ministers This became a key part of the corruption investigation
What happened to the Prime Minister because of this
Joseph Muscat who was Prime Minister at the time of the murder resigned in 2020 after protests and pressure over his handling of the case His successor Robert Abela is now facing calls for action
Has the Maltese government responded to the verdict
The government has said it respects the courts decision but has not announced major reforms Critics say the response has been too weak
What do protesters want
They are demanding an independent inquiry into the murder protection for journalists and reforms
