F’konferenza tal-aħbarijiet dalgħodu, iċ-Chairperson tal-Alternattiva Demokratika Carmel Cacopardo qal li l-AD tinnota l-klima negattiva li żviluppat fil-pajjiż wara l-qtil ta’ Daphne Caruana Galizia. Huwa qal li filwaqt li jifhem u japprezza li pajjiżna għadda minn xokk u rabja, il-pajjiż ma jistax jibqa’ jinfena bi tfiegħ ta’ tajn u akkużi minn tribujiet politiċi mehdijin li jisparaw lil xulxin qisu m’hemmx għada. Huwa sostna li din il-klima qed twassal għal ħsara irreparabbli għar-reputazzjoni internazzjonali ta’ Malta, u iktar minn hekk, l-imminar ta’ istituzzjonijiet li diġa` kienu dgħajfa.

F’dan il-kuntest, AD tħoss li l-pajjiż għandu żewġ prijoritajiet importanti quddiemu. L-ewwel li min wettaq dan l-att atroċi u viljakk jinqabad u jitressaq quddiem il-ġustizzja mill-iktar fis. It-tieni prijorita` hija li b’mod immedjat, jitnieda tentattiv serju biex titfassal riforma konstituzzjonali mill-qiegħ li twassal għal tisħih tabilħaqq tal-istituzzjonijiet li jiggarantixxu d-demokrazija u s-saltna tad-dritt f’pajjiżna.

Cacopardo qal li jaqbel mad-dikjarazzjoni ta’ Rosi Bindi ċ-chairperson tal-kumitat parlamentari anti-mafja Taljana li Malta għandha taħdem biex tagħlaq ix-xquq fl-operat tal-istituzzjonijiet tagħha biex il-kriminalita` organizzata ma jkollhiex l-ispazji biex topera.

“Hemm bżonn” sostna Cacopardo “li nibdew inħarsu ‘l quddiem flok neħlu fl-ippuntar tas-subgħajn li m’hu qed iwassalna mkien”.

Fid-dawl ta’ dan kollu, Alternattiva Demokratika tħoss li wasal iż-żmien propizju biex fl-aħħar tiġi varata l-konvenzjoni fuq il-kostituzzjoni li ilha mwiegħda s-snin u li tlaqqa’ flimkien il-partijiet konċernati kollha partikolarment u mhux biss il-partiti rappreżentati fil-parlament. Cacopardo ħabbar ukoll li AD se tagħmel kuntatt mal-prim ministru u l-kap tal-oppożizzjoni fost oħrajn, biex titlob li l-proċess jinbeda mill-iktar fis. Dan se tibqa’ tinsisti fuqu fil-jiem u ġimgħat li ġejjin u mhux se tistrieħ qabel dan il-proċess ta’ mportanza Nazzjonali fl-aħħar jitnieda.

Mill-kruha u d-dalma li waqgħet fuq il-pajjiż bil-qtil tas-Sinjura Caruana Galizia hemm bżonn li joħroġ il-ġid u tinbet it-tama. Il-ġid komuni għandu jiġi qabel kull pika partiġġjana li spiċċat kielet il-fibra morali u etika ta’ dan il-pajjiż li tant inħobbu. Il-politika msejħa li tagħti messaġġ ċar li kapaċi togħla ‘l fuq mill-battibekki u toffri soluzzjonijiet fit-tul. Dan ikun l-aħjar mod li bih nfakkru b’ġieh lis-Sinjura Caruana Galizia li ħallset prezz qares għad-dritt tal-liberta` tal-espressjoni u s-sens ta’ rettitudni fil-ħajja politika u soċjali tal-pajjiż.

***

The blame game is leading the country nowhere.

During a press conference this morning, AD Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo said that AD notes the extremely negative climate that developed in the country after the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. He said that while he understands and appreciates that our country has gone through a big shock and the anger is more than understandable, the country cannot continue going down the route of mud slinging, finger pointing and the tribal blame game. He argued that the current climate is leading to irreparable damage to the international reputation of Malta, and moreover, the undermining of institutions that were already weak through years upon years of purposeful neglect.

In this context, AD feels that the country has two important priorities. The first is that whoever committed this atrocious act is caught and brought to justice as soon as possible. The second priority is to immediately launch the constitutional reform process to strengthen the institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law in our country.

Cacopardo said he agrees with Rosi Bindi, the Chairperson of Italian anti-mafia parliamentary committee, that Malta should work to close cracks in the operation of its institutions so that organized crime is deprived of the space in which it operates.

“We need to look ahead”, said Cacopardo. “The blame game is not leading anywhere.”

In view of the current situation, AD deems that it is high time that the constitutional convention, which has been promised for years is finally launched, bringing together all parties concerned, in particular but not only the parties represented in parliament.

Carmel Cacopardo also announced that AD will make contact with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, amongst others, to request that the process be started as soon as possible. AD will continue to insist on the urgency of launching the reform process in the coming days and weeks and will not rest before this process of national importance is launched.

From the shock, anger and darkness that fell on the country with the murder of Ms Caruana Galizia we need to move on to positive action and hope. The common good must prevail over partisan pique that has ruined the sense of state and the ethical core of this country. This country must seek long-term solutions over political jockeying. This is the best way to honour Ms Caruana Galizia and the bitter price she paid for freedom of expression and politics based on public service.