Prime Minister Joseph Muscat today dispelled an insinuation made by Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi as “hogwash”, saying he does not care what Azzopardi says.
Muscat was asked for his reaction after Azzopardi insinuated on the social media that an early election was called in 2017 because the plans to assassinate journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia had already been hatched.
Asked whether he will be suing Azzopardi for his comments, Muscat said that when he sues for libel he is accused of doing so and when he doesn’t he is asked why he did not.
Asked whether he knows who the main suspects in the murder investigation are, Muscat said that this is a matter for the police and, even if he were to know any details, he would not divulge them.
He said that the only person to gain from any speculation on these kind of investigations is the suspect, who would be alerted.
Muscat said that he had no problem testifying in the murder case if he is summoned by the courts. “I have no problem because I have nothing to hide,” Muscat said, although he said he does not know what he will be asked.
The Sunday Times reported that a businessman has been identified as a main suspect in the search for the mastermind behind the assassination of Caruana Galizia, and that Muscat has been summoned to testify.
Muscat said he would not comment on whether he has met the journalist’s family after he appointed a public inquiry to investigate the murder.
He said he is sceptical about the effectiveness of presidential pardons when asked about a potential immunity deal with one of the murder suspects.
Muscat said that in the past they had only served to help “people walk free”.
He not confirm or deny claims that one of the men accused of killing Daphne Caruana Galizia had been refused a presidential pardon.
