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The Maltese Herald

“We should get rid of journalists who abuse freedom of speech” – Malta’s Prime Minister, Robert Abela

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by

Mark Camilleri
in

In what can be described as the most shocking interview with Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela until now, yesterday at the Auberge de Castille, Robert Abela literally told reporters that “We should get rid of journalists who abuse freedom of speech”. Pressed to tell who are these journalists, Robert Abela refused to answer, however he also said that he meant that people should not associate with these individuals. He said that these individuals do not come from any political party and have a hidden agenda.

This is a blatant and explicit call for violence against journalists and anyone who dares criticse him. He also said he was a victim to these journalists and invoked Karl Gouder’s case, but this is nonsense. There are enough provisions in law that cater for blackmail that even carry prison sentences.

We are entering a dangerous phase in Maltese politics as the Labour Party turns to authoritarianism and outright fascism in its struggle to preserve its power. A criminal organization will try and do anything to save itself from collapsing and this is the moment when panic and megalomania is taking over.

Comments

  1. Wenzu avatar
    Wenzu

    Why doesn’t he start by getting rid of “The Fraud’ at One TV? Charity begins at home, Bobby!

    Reply
  2. Spoilt Brat il-favorit tan-nanna avatar
    Spoilt Brat il-favorit tan-nanna

    They already got rid of a journalist ( DCG ). Nothing to see move on….

    Reply
  3. Bobby Tuba avatar
    Bobby Tuba

    Where was this clown when Rosianne sued you (and lost) and potentially could have ruined you Mark? Wasn’t that a senseless attack on an innocent person? Wasn’t that abuse as well that could have driven you to very bad outcomes?

    Reply
  4. Pillow for Frank avatar
    Pillow for Frank

    Shocking declaration from a sitting prime minister in a supposedly democratic country after they “got rid” of the best investigative journalist on the island a.k.a. Daphne Caruana Galizia.

    Reply
  5. Tirso avatar
    Tirso

    Who does this joker think he is? He knows as well as anyone that Labour politicians are reluctant to sue for libel because they do not want to face accountability in a cross-examined in court under oath. The few who tried to scare journalists by suing them, dropped their case before the sitting fixed for their cross examination.

    Reply
  6. Banquo avatar
    Banquo

    A truly liberal prime minister would be boasting that we are all (potential) journalists now. A witness to a police raid can film it and upload it to YouTube, and point out if any abuses take place. A victim to a crime can write about the experience on a Facebook post. Anyone with the inclination and the technical means can start a blog or a podcast to disseminate one’s opinions.

    All this costs little or no money, and makes sure that more accurate information and diverse opinions reach the public. Admittedly, it makes possible lots of dross, too, but that’s where education comes in. Informed and intelligent readers will know how to separate what is real (or possibly so) from what is fake news or just a conspiracy theory.

    Instead of focusing on the need for better literacy and civics education, Prime Minister Robert Abela takes the autocrat’s way out and says we need to banish ‘fake journalists’, ignoring the fact that there is legally no such thing because journalism is (thankfully) not a warranted profession.

    Egyptian and Turkish presidents Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Recep Tayyip Erdo?an would be proud that Malta’s official views on journalism are as dictatorial as their own. Thankfully, as Maltese, we are not subjects of a dictatorship. We are members of the European Union.

    When we voted to join the EU, we did so with the hope of gaining more freedoms and becoming more liberal. That includes not allowing stodgy or government-controlled newspapers and television stations being gatekeepers of what we read and hear, and what we write and see. It is in every liberal-minded citizen’s interest to stand up for that right, no matter how much Robert Abela and his megalomaniacal ilk may protest.

    P.S. Damn, if only we could have had Simon Busuttil as prime minister.

    Reply
  7. Chris avatar
    Chris

    The Babbu is shit-scared he’s the one to be gotten rid of.
    Be afraid Babbu!
    The sooner you become a retied PM (Posing Muttonhead) the better.

    Reply
    1. Chris avatar
      Chris

      Retired PM – not retied PM
      We don’t want him to be ‘retied’ to his patt mxajtan.

      Reply
  8. The Justice Minister at the Parliament Media Forum: “We need to punish those who abuse free speech” – Mark Camilleri avatar
    The Justice Minister at the Parliament Media Forum: “We need to punish those who abuse free speech” – Mark Camilleri

    […] Prime Minister Robert Abela made some very authoritative comments on those who “abuse free […]

    Reply
  9. Robert Abela’s renewal of the Labour Party: a campaign against the free press – Mark Camilleri avatar
    Robert Abela’s renewal of the Labour Party: a campaign against the free press – Mark Camilleri

    […] posts? In terms of government policy nothing has changed except that the government is on a renewed offensive against the free press. Basically, in every local interview he has given, he has attacked the free […]

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