Once again, Repubblika has tried to grab the headlines with a hollow press release – this time targeting former Labour Minister Chris Cardona, following his appointment as an education consultant.
Their statement reads like a tired, recycled script: Cardona has “no credentials,” he has “shadows hanging over him,” and his engagement is “a step backwards.” The usual mix of innuendo and selective moral outrage.
But let us pause here and ask the real question: who exactly is Repubblika to lecture the nation on ethics, competence, and accountability?
The Beautiful Slogans vs. The Ugly Truth
Under the leadership of Prof. Vicki Ann Cremona, Repubblika presents itself as a moral compass. According to her, the NGO exists to “hold up a mirror to power,” to “stand up against corruption even when it is normalised,” and to “ask difficult questions when institutions fail.”
It’s all very poetic. Stirring, even.
But like so much of Repubblika’s rhetoric, it collapses under the weight of its own double standards. Because when corruption arises from within their own political backyard, their mirror suddenly fogs over—and their megaphone falls silent.
The Case They Don’t Want to Talk About
Take the case of Francine Farrugia, the PN councillor from Siġġiewi currently facing trial for allegedly siphoning off millions from MCAST funds into property, cars, and even a staggering €113,000 spending spree at Harrods.
Think about it: this was public money, education money – the very sector Repubblika claims to be “defending” today. Money that should have gone to students and lecturers was allegedly spent on luxury goods and private wealth.
If ever there was a textbook case for Repubblika’s activists to “defend the vulnerable” and “demand accountability,” this was it.
And what did Cremona and her clique do?
- No press release.
- No condemnation.
- No protest outside the law courts.
Absolute silence.
Chris Cardona
The Hypocrisy Laid Bare
When it comes to Chris Cardona, Repubblika finds its voice. But when it comes to a PN councillor caught up in an education funds scandal of historic proportions, their moral compass suddenly spins wildly.
The hypocrisy couldn’t be clearer: they do not fight corruption. They fight Labour. They do not stand up for principles. They stand up for partisan interests.
Conclusion
Repubblika’s press release on Chris Cardona is not about principles, it’s about politics. Their silence on the Francine Farrugia scandal proves it beyond doubt. When the accused comes from the Nationalist camp, they look away. When the target is Labour, they sharpen their knives.
Until Prof. Cremona and Repubblika find the courage to clean their own backyard, they have no moral authority to lecture anyone — not the government, not the opposition, and certainly not the people.
