On the day we find out that the government has started a process to ban Repubblika, Christoph Schweiger on Twitter puts up a very pertinent observation about one of the speakers the president of Malta chose to preach national unity a few days ago.
The gentleman concerned is Mr Mario Fava. Follow this thread.
This time last year, National Unity conference panelist Mario Fava was blocking rule of law NGO’s @repubblikaMT‘s request to address Malta’s Civil Society Committee and the MCESD. A thread. pic.twitter.com/fyWYKWNo7a
— Christoph Schwaiger (@cschwaigermt) March 6, 2021
So during the national unity conference organised by @presidentmt Mario Fava was one of the panelists. He’s the President of the Local Councils Association.
— Christoph Schwaiger (@cschwaigermt) March 6, 2021
During the conference he spoke about how important collaboration is. He also said it’s important for all people to have access to the same opportunities. So far so good. pic.twitter.com/LU504W916Q
— Christoph Schwaiger (@cschwaigermt) March 6, 2021
But, first let’s remember that Mario Fava critisiced PN local councillors who were in favour of awarding slain journalist #DaphneCaruanaGalizia an award posthumously.
Link here: https://t.co/7nCh4h1LPI
— Christoph Schwaiger (@cschwaigermt) March 6, 2021
He said it would be disrespectful towards the previous winners of the award to be placed on the same level as Caruana Galizia. He falsely accused her of only spreading lies and hatred. Fava said that Local Councils work towards unity (ah that famous word again) and not division.
— Christoph Schwaiger (@cschwaigermt) March 6, 2021
This we already knew, so now comes the new bit. In early 2020, just a few months after the political crisis #Malta was in, the rule of law NGO Repubblika wanted to address Malta’s council for social and economic development (MCESD). pic.twitter.com/3ORWTCzKgx
— Christoph Schwaiger (@cschwaigermt) March 6, 2021
Repubblika wanted to present its proposals for a better Malta. Fava, who was part of the committee discussing Repubblika’s request said that he absolutely doesn’t agree with Repubblika’s correspondence.
— Christoph Schwaiger (@cschwaigermt) March 6, 2021
He stated that no group which doesn’t represent all of civil society should refer to itself in that manner. He was probably mistakenly thinking that Repubblika was the CSN. Also he said that he’s not convinced with Repubblika’s “so-called love towards the country”.
— Christoph Schwaiger (@cschwaigermt) March 6, 2021
In another email, members of the committee were asked if they would allow Repubblika to address it & also if it could address the MCESD. “From my end, it’s a definite no!” replied Mario Fava, National Unity panelist, defender of collaboration, and promoter of equal platforms. pic.twitter.com/aFI2eKZriw
— Christoph Schwaiger (@cschwaigermt) March 6, 2021
So perhaps President George Vella can tell us if he’ll have a chat with Mario Fava and they can both publicly tell us the outcome. Vella can also let us know if Fava will continue being one of the poster children for national unity in Malta.
— Christoph Schwaiger (@cschwaigermt) March 6, 2021
It’s not all bleak Mario Fava says. For him, it isn’t.