The Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly convenes this week. At its winter session Dutch Member of Parliament Pieter Omtzigt will be asking the governments of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe the following question:

“Will you request formal explanations from the Maltese Government on its Police Force’s failure to investigate evidence of money laundering by government officials and their relatives, on its failure to adequately protect Ms Caruana Galizia and on the protection it intends to afford to the relevant whistleblowers?”

The 47 governments will have to give a joint reply and before they do that will need to ask for explanations on this matter from the Maltese government.

Parliamentarians from across Europe are showing interest in this case. A motion in the Scottish Parliament demanding explanations and international scrutiny has now acquired enough signatures to be considered by that institution.

MSP James Dornan first put forward the motion that now has the support of 23 other MSPs.

Meantime in Strasbourg tomorrow, on the fringe of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, a meeting is being held addressed by Matthew, Andrew and Paul Caruana Galizia.