HOW TO THINK ABOUT IT
Changing winds. Despite allegations of corruption, Muscat was a popular leader. In early November, a Malta Today poll found that just over half of respondents trusted Muscat more than other political leaders (down from an all-time high of 54 percent a year earlier). His tenure has seen Malta’s bona fides on things like LGBT rights move forward swiftly and surely — but Muscat had said as long ago as 2018 that he wouldn’t seek reelection, so it’s possible his personal downfall won’t unduly affect the island nation’s political trajectory.
Family ties. The campaign for justice for Caruana Galizia has been spearheaded by her family — specifically her oldest son, Matthew, who told OZY that while he knew his mother’s investigative journalism work was important, “her murder was a possibility that I simply never considered.” Today the family has asked Maltese courts to keep Muscat from being involved in the ongoing investigation — except as a suspect. In recent days, Muscat’s chief of staff and tourism minister resigned after Fenech’s lawyers reportedly offered information on them in exchange for a pardon (which was denied).
Next steps. While no favorites have been named in the race to replace Muscat, it may happen without a national election. Instead, the new prime minister could be selected by the Labour Party as part of an internal leadership election. Unless a snap election is called, whoever’s selected will likely be in power until the next scheduled general election in 2022.
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