Who was Daphne Caruana Galizia, the investigative journalist killed in Malta
Rights — di Andrea Barolini
Daphne Caruana Galizia had exposed numerous corruption scandals in Malta. She was blown up on 16 October while driving her car.
Who was Daphne Caruana Galizia, the investigative journalist killed in Malta
Daphne Caruana Galizia had exposed numerous corruption scandals in Malta. She was blown up on 16 October while driving her car.
She had just published a new article on her blog, in which she exposed yet another corruption affair. The piece went online at 2:35 pm on Monday 16 October. Daphne Caruana Galizia, a Maltese journalist, then closed her computer. She left the house. She got behind the wheel of her car and pressed the accelerator for about thirty minutes. Until a bomb blew up the vehicle, killing her instantly. She was 53 years old.
She investigated the Panama Papers and accused politicians, a minister and the prime minister's wife
"Corruption has now spread everywhere. The situation is desperate," the blogger had written shortly beforehand, having become well known in Malta for helping to shine a light on numerous scandals compromising local politicians. The blog "Running Commentary", written in English, is (was) one of the most widely read on the island, even more so than the national newspapers. Through her investigations, Daphne Caruana Galizia had reached the very top of her country: the Energy Minister, the chief of staff and even the wife of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat were suspected of having opened offshore bank accounts.
#Malte Hommage à la blogueuse & journaliste Daphne Caruana Galizia assassinée lundi dans le nord de l'île #AFP [photos @mattmirabelli]
These revelations came as part of the so-called Panama Papers scandal, an archive of files from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, which made it possible to uncover a system of worldwide exploitation of tax havens.
"Daphne Caruana Galizia had made many enemies in Malta"
The head of the Maltese government had always denied all charges and stated that he was ready to resign should the accusations be proven. But Daphne Caruana Galizia had recently turned her sights on the opposition party as well, in particular on new leader Adrian Della, whom the journalist suspected of holding an account in Jersey allegedly fed by money derived from the exploitation of prostitution. "She was an intellectually independent woman. She had made many enemies, sometimes seasoning her articles with nonsense," said Arnold Cassola, former leader of the Maltese Green party, as reported by the French daily Le Monde. The blogger was indeed in the habit of adding mockery of the family members of those who ended up in her crosshairs, not sparing comments on the clothing of local political figures, and using language that at times verged on the offensive.
Vigil for murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia gets under way in #Malta
But many Maltese people were on her side: this was demonstrated by the spontaneous demonstrations of those who took to the streets the previous day to pay tribute to the journalist and once again denounce the corruption rampant on the island. Della himself commented on the assassination, declaring it to be a "direct consequence of the total collapse of the state and the rule of law in our country".
"What happened looks more like Russia than the EU"
Prime Minister Muscat, for his part, spoke of a "barbaric act" and a "black day for our democracy and our freedom of expression", assuring that the security forces would do everything possible to "identify those responsible and bring them to justice". "What has happened," commented a German Green MEP, "looks more like Russia than Europe. Daphne Caruana Galizia's passion for the truth was difficult to handle in a society like Malta's."