H.E. Somers Farkas,
U.S. Ambassador to Malta
26th January 2026
Dear Ambassador Farkas,
Subject: Insights on Repubblika and the Context of Their Upcoming Vigil
Your Excellency,
As you settle into your role representing the United States in Malta, you may have received a sanctimonious letter from Vicki Ann Cremona, the president of a fringe group called Repubblika. In it, they pontificate about “democracy, human rights, and the rule of law,” decrying U.S. immigration policies under President Trump as “cruel” and akin to “authoritarian regimes.” They even invoke America’s historical image as a “city on a hill” while announcing a vigil outside your embassy in Ta’ Qali tomorrow evening, a thinly veiled anti-Trump protest designed to stir up drama and virtue-signal to their dwindling supporters.
Don’t be fooled by their lofty rhetoric. Repubblika is no beacon of integrity; it’s a tiny, extremist clique of self-appointed moral guardians who represent a mere 943 members, smaller than the average Maltese village band club. These charlatans preach accountability and justice while embodying the very hypocrisy they claim to fight. Allow me to expose who they really are, so you can see through their facade and understand why their protest is nothing more than a desperate bid for relevance.
A Tiny Echo Chamber of Extremists, Not a Grassroots Movement
Repubblika styles itself as a “civil society organization” defending Maltese democracy, but in reality, it’s an insular group with negligible support. Their membership fees are modest – €25 per year for adults, €10 for students or those under 18. Yet they boast only around 943 dues-paying members. That’s barely a blip in Malta’s population of over 500,000. They don’t speak for the Maltese people; they speak for a narrow, radical faction obsessed with “woke” ideologies and open-borders migration policies that prioritize virtue-signaling over practical realities.
On migration, Repubblika consistently advocates for lax enforcement and unrestricted rights for asylum seekers, decrying any border controls as “repressive” or “inhumane.” They oppose Malta’s efforts to manage irregular migration, even as the island grapples with the strain of being a frontline EU State. Their embrace of “woke” causes extends to fervent support for LGBTIQ+ migrants, painting Malta’s progressive laws as a paradox while ignoring the cultural and economic burdens of unchecked influxes.
These positions aren’t about human rights; they’re about pushing a radical agenda that alienates everyday Maltese citizens who value sovereignty and security.
Hypocrisy on Display: Rallying Behind an Accused Abuser
Repubblika’s claim to moral superiority crumbles under scrutiny, especially in how they handled the scandal involving their former president, Robert Aquilina. Just a few months ago, in May 2025, Aquilina was summoned by police and arraigned on charges of domestic violence and the illegal detention of his wife, Jeanette Aquilina. He resigned from Repubblika amid the allegations, but Repubblika’s loyalists rushed to his defense, portraying him as a “martyr” victimized by a political smear campaign rather than addressing the gravity of the accusations.
Although charges were eventually dropped in June 2025 at his wife’s request, the episode reeks of double standards.
Repubblika, which loves to lecture on “impunity and abuse of power,” stood by Aquilina without hesitation, attempting to launder his image from accused aggressor to anti-corruption hero. Aquilina even turned down reinstatement, citing the “greater good,” but the damage was done: their selective outrage exposes them as spin doctors who apply “justice” only when it suits their narrative.
How can a group that claims to champion human dignity and the rule of law so blithely support someone facing such serious allegations? It’s the height of hypocrisy, a stark contrast to their finger-wagging at U.S. policies they deem “cruel.”
Funded by American Taxpayers: The USAID Gravy Train
Repubblika loves to portray itself as a pure, donation-driven outfit powered by altruistic Maltese citizens. But peel back the curtain, and you’ll find they’ve been dipping into U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funds – courtesy of American taxpayers. These funds have supported their events. It’s galling: They benefit from U.S. generosity under the Biden era, only to turn around and demonize Trump.
Speaking of which, tomorrow’s vigil isn’t about “injustice” or child welfare – it’s a blatant anti-Trump stunt. Repubblika has never hidden their disdain for President Donald Trump; they were ardent supporters of “Sleepy Joe” Biden, aligning with the mainstream Maltese media’s relentless anti-Trump propaganda over the past four years. I’ve personally been demonized in the press for writing pro-Trump articles, labeled everything from a “fascist enabler” to worse, simply for defending strong borders and America First policies.
Their letter to you is a masterclass in selective indignation. They rail against ICE enforcement and family separations, policies aimed at securing borders and protecting citizens, while ignoring the chaos of unchecked migration in Europe. It’s not solidarity with Americans; it’s ideological warfare against Trump, wrapped in flowery language about “human dignity.”
Don’t Let Them Fool You
Your Excellency, Repubblika does not represent the broader will of the Maltese people. It reflects a narrow and highly ideological segment that consistently advances progressive agendas while overlooking controversies that suit its narrative. Having previously benefited from U.S.-linked support, it now positions itself in opposition to the current American Administration. Tomorrow’s vigil appears less an expression of national consensus and more another episode in a prolonged pattern of political theatre.
Malta values its strong ties with the United States under President Trump. We appreciate robust immigration policies that prioritize security and fairness, something Repubblika’s open-borders zealotry ignores. Stand firm against their theatrics; they’re not defenders of democracy, but dividers seeking to import division.
If you engage with them, demand transparency: Ask about their USAID funding, their support for a wife beater, and why a group of fewer than 1,000 presumes to lecture a superpower.
Respectfully,
Neville Gafa’
