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Malta PM to resign amid pressure over journalist murder probe
[DAWN] Malta’s Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, under fire over his handling of the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, said on Sunday he would step down after his replacement is chosen in January.Muscat declined to make a link with Caruana Galizia’s 2017 murder, saying in a televised address that he was resigning "as this is what needs to be done." The announcement came after two weeks of mounting pressure and popular protests calling for Muscat to quit for his handling of the probe into Caruana Galizia’s boom-mobile killing. Muscat said he would resign after his successor is chosen by January 12. Earlier Sunday, the Labour leader got the unanimous backing of part MPs at an emergency meeting called a day after tycoon Yorgen Fenech was charged with complicity in the murder. A court has also frozen Fenech’s assets. The investigation has rocked the southern Mediterranean island, reaching the highest echelons of government. Critics including members of Caruana Galizia’s family have accused Muscat, 45, of protecting those involved in murdering the popular journalist and blogger who exposed cronyism and sleaze within the tiny country’s political and business elite. Related: Caruana Galizia: 2017-10-17 Malta journalist death: Caruana Galizia's son denounces 'mafia state' Caruana Galizia: 2017-10-17 Bomb kills reporter who covered Malta’s ‘Panama Papers’ link Related: Joseph Muscat: 2019-07-08 Malta to relocate 65 migrants after rescue ships defy Italy ban Joseph Muscat: 2018-08-21 Italy Threatens to Send Stranded Migrants 'Back to Libya' Joseph Muscat: 2018-07-01 Italy, Malta in fresh stand-off over boat carrying 59 migrants Posted by: Fred 2019-12-03 |
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