Labour’s parliamentary Whip, Naomi Cachia, told the Council of Europe’s Legal Affairs Committee in Paris on Wednesday that a journalist murdered for her work, referring to Daphne Caruana Galizia, must not be failed a second time “through complacency, resignation, or simply being forgotten.” She made the remark during testimony delivered with Daphne’s son and sister sitting in the room.The hearing was convened ahead of a forthcoming report by rapporteur Shami Chakrabarti on the unfinished implementation of Malta’s obligations in the Caruana Galizia case – obligations that trace back to a 2021 public inquiry which found the Maltese state itself bore responsibility for creating the “culture of impunity” that made her assassination possible. Daphne’s son, Matthew Caruana Galizia, and her sister, Corinne Vella, took part in the session.Cachia opened by acknowledging the moment the country had just been through: “Today week my country collectively held its breath as we awaited the jury verdict,” she said, adding that while she felt it “perhaps inappropriate” to comment on the merits of the verdict, “given the possibility of an appeal”,”the search for the truth, and the whole truth, and accountability does not end with this verdict.”It cannot,” she added.The Government Whip framed the cause as one Matthew Caruana Galizia and Corinne Vella “have fought for, and are fighting for, with immense courage and strength and resilience.”Cachia then acknowledged “institutional failings,” pointing to a programme of constitutional, judicial and media reform already under way. She added that she was “not here to suggest that this work is complete” – particularly, she said, in the field of media freedom. She welcomed the scrutiny of the forthcoming report and pledged that government “remains committed to implementing these recommendations in a responsible and constructive manner.”The PL Whip then went on to say that “a journalist murdered for her work cannot become a victim for a second time through complacency, resignation, or forgetfulness.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lovin Malta (@lovinmalta)Her words are strikingly at odds with what members of her own government have been saying at home over the past week.Days before Cachia’s appearance in Paris, Culture Minister Malcolm Paul Agius Galea was doorstepped by journalists outside Malta’s Parliament and said, “We cannot assume that Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed because of her work,” he said, drawing an analogy to a hypothetical murdered doctor and repeatedly urging “caution.” Asked whether journalists in Malta were less safe following Yorgen Fenech’s acquittal days earlier, he said he didn’t think so.The remarks drew immediate condemnation. Repubblika stated that the 2021 public inquiry had already established, in its own words, that Caruana Galizia’s assassination was “intrinsically, if not exclusively” linked to her investigative journalism, and that a serving minister “cannot pretend these facts do not exist.” The Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association called the comments “unacceptable.” Nationalist MP Michael Piccinino used a parliamentary debate to note that Labour had itself voted against legislation intended to strengthen protections for journalists. Agius Galea later apologised on social media, saying politicians “must choose their words carefully,” however did not retract the substance of what he’d said.The same parliamentary debate also revisited Home Affairs Minister Glenn Bedingfield’s history of writing critically about Caruana Galizia on a blog he ran while working at the Office of the Prime Minister. Bedingfield conceded he had “been too rough” at times. Opposition Leader Alex Borg questioned whether a minister with that history could credibly oversee a police force now handling evidence, referred by the trial judge, on whether other individuals should face prosecution over the case. Prime Minister Robert Abela dismissed the concern, insisting police investigations are fully independent of ministerial direction.Chakrabarti’s full report is due to be debated by the Parliamentary Assembly later this year. Whether it treats Cachia’s Paris testimony as evidence of genuine progress, or measures it against what Malta’s own ministers are saying back home, may say a great deal about how seriously it takes the “unfinished” in its title.•