The Shift’s editor sues Robert Abela for defamation

The Shift Team - 19. January. 2025

The Shift’s editor, Caroline Muscat, has sued Robert Abela for comments he made about the newsroom’s work during an interview this week.

Prime Minister Robert Abela said his ministers were being investigated because “there is a fake news blog, Shift News, which specialises in reporting falsehoods. 90% of what they report contains falsehoods.”

He went on to say that the newsroom’s “only agenda is to promote falsehood and evil”.

Abela’s comment was made in the context of his decision to instruct the justice minister to amend the law to limit citizens’ capacity to request magisterial inquiries, saying the system was being abused.

Abela said, “These news reports were the only thing used to open these magisterial inquiries.”

In a case filed on Friday, Muscat requested the court to find that Abela had defamed her by means of his statements and consequently was liable to be condemned to pay damages according to law. In the same application, Tula Ltd, the company that operates The Shift, requested the court to find Abela liable for a trade libel and likewise requested damages.

The Shift’s editor said: “It is inconceivable that the prime minister of an EU member state lashes out and targets independent media in this way, aiming to discredit them, blaming them for the scandals exposed rather than the perpetrators”.

The prime minister has moved to limit citizens’ rights in requesting magisterial inquiries and called for immunity for public servants. “Clearly aimed at shutting down the exposure of the government’s wrongdoing, Abela has now shifted his attention to silencing those journalists revealing government corruption.”

She added: “Abela said The Shift is responsible for a lineup of ministers and public servants facing criminal charges. So, how is 90% of what we report false?”

Abela proceeded to attack civil society organisations by describing them as “a small clique of people trying to seize institutions and terrorise them.”

He encouraged journalists to “study this phenomenon of Shift News and others like them because their only agenda is to push falsehoods and deceit”.

His statement was condemned by international press freedom organisation Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

#Malta: We firmly condemn PM @RobertAbela_MT‘s attempt to discredit @TheShiftNews, an outlet led by RSF Award Laureate @muscatcar. While justifying a judicial reform that could hamper the prosecution of corruption cases, he called the media’s public interest journalism “fake… pic.twitter.com/4PqhAuDEcn

— RSF (@RSF_inter) January 16, 2025

“We firmly condemn Prime Minister Robert Abela’s attempt to discredit The Shift, an outlet led by RSF Award Laureate Caroline Muscat. While justifying a judicial reform that could hamper the prosecution of corruption cases, he called the media’s public interest journalism ‘fake news’,” RSF said.

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El Ninho

11 months ago

Robert Abela is a despicable person. He knows that a lot of his supporters are not intelligent enough to see how he is contradicting himself. So he says Shift is 90% falsehoods . Because of shift a lot of people are facing legal action.

So my question to Robert Abela? how come these people, if the reporting is false , are facing criminal charges after magisterial inquiries have found enough evidence to prosecute them?

Robert Abela is the one spreading falsehoods and looking T ways to protect the countless crooks in his government.

Guest

KLAUS

11 months ago

It may not just be the crooks in his government.
His predecessor is on trial and desperate.
Maybe he wants to help him and his gang.

??????????????
The next election will be very critical for the PL.

ROBBER Abela’s record also appears to be anything but clean. It is also desperate self-protection.

His aim seems to be to make sure that the changes in the law also affect him, like a protective shield.

Guest

Citizen Gahan

11 months ago

That pagliaccio cattivo is no better than Joseph Muscat just much, much less charismatic to the masses of Gahans. His father George – who I believe had a tad of character and basic integrity – can’t be too proud of his offspring.

Guest

Joseph Tabone Adami

11 months ago

Abela’s train of thought seems to be going awry and becoming ever more difficult to unravel even by those with a working amount of grey matter between the ears.

How can the poor Gahans be expected to imagine that there is something more sinister than the apparent ‘fatherly care’ behind the morsels and crumbs occasionally thrown out to them in the form of a Euro 100 cheque?

All that they are expected to do – and actually can do – is to clap as heartily as Abela expects them to, and wait for the next handout!

Guest

Godfrey Leone Ganado

11 months ago

Dear Caroline and all journalists of The Shift – you have my full solidarity for all the work that you do to report wrongdoings by our servant the government and its lackeys/accolades.
It is these wrongdoings that have corrupted the excellent worldwide reputation Malta had up to 2013.
I look upon the Shift News with daily vigour as this news site is a worthy continuation of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s Running Commentary and a bastion of the right to freedom of the press which is encouraged in democratic countries and destroyed only in autocratic and countries run by dictatorial regimes.
I am sure that, like the running commentary, the shift reports based on professional research and undeniable facts, will be engraved in the political history of Malta and turned into a permanent font of knowledge for free-thinking and intelligent citizens.

Guest

Darren Abela

11 months ago

I hope that Ms. Muscat wins enough damages from Abela, in his personal capacity, that he, along with his party, will learn once and for all, that just because the misguided handed him power, it does not bestow the right to terrorise critics!

Guest

Chris

11 months ago

He’s lost it. He’s scared. He’s still there whilst he knows he’s finished. Would someone close to him who really cares for him please gently advise him to quit his role as PM? Might running his reburbished boutique hotel not be a much better solution overall for everyone?

Guest

Margaret Cox

11 months ago

Hasn?t the Hon PM heard of the adage ?There is NO smoke without fire??

Guest

M.Galea

11 months ago

Xi hmieg ta gvern! Mela hi, jrisu jkomplu jisirqu artna w flusna biex saru miljunarji minghajr xkiel! Mafiaaaa!! Ara ghal min jivvota dal poplu tan-nejk!!

Guest

dora mallia

11 months ago

la hu involut bil fors irrid jara xser jaghmel biex isalva gildu!!!!! Kuragg Caroline tibzax mill verita jekk ikun hemm il bzonn ahna hemm inkunu!!! tinsix konna l erba qtates li kaxkarna lil prim korott

Guest

Sportguru

11 months ago

Nice. Attack the supporters. That’s why the PN is hated so much. Your misplaced superior attitude is what defines your legacy. Remember the PN electorate is made of the same ‘stupid’ supporters you so conveniently attacked.
Attack RA all you must, the criticism is justified.