Editing Joseph Muscat (section)

==== Panama Papers ====
[[File:Joseph Muscat 2016.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|Muscat in 2016]]
In 2016, two of Muscat's close collaborators were implicated in the [[Panama Papers]], holding two companies in that jurisdiction.<ref name=":8">{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-02-20/local-news/Panama-Papers-mother-of-all-corruption-cases-continues-to-haunt-government-Beppe-Fenech-Adami-6736170654 |title=Panama Papers 'mother of all corruption cases', continues to haunt Labour – Beppe Fenech Adami |date=20 February 2017 |work=The Malta Independent |access-date=11 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222083819/http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-02-20/local-news/Panama-Papers-mother-of-all-corruption-cases-continues-to-haunt-government-Beppe-Fenech-Adami-6736170654 |archive-date=22 February 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> These were [[Konrad Mizzi]], a minister, and [[Keith Schembri]], the Prime Minister's chief of staff.<ref name=":8" />

In 2017 journalist and blogger [[Daphne Caruana Galizia]] alleged that Muscat's wife held a third company in [[Panama]] named Egrant.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-04-21/local-news/DCG-uploads-alleged-text-showing-Egrant-declaration-of-Trust-Michelle-Muscat-named-6736173317 |title=DCG uploads alleged text showing Egrant declaration of Trust, Michelle Muscat named |last=Grech |first=Helena |date=21 April 2017 |work=The Malta Independent |access-date=11 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505051336/http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-04-21/local-news/DCG-uploads-alleged-text-showing-Egrant-declaration-of-Trust-Michelle-Muscat-named-6736173317 |archive-date=5 May 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Opposition Leader [[Simon Busuttil]] made his own allegations of significant money transfers into Egrant.<ref>{{Cite web
|date        = 21 April 2017
|title       = Heated debate between PM and PN Leader ends as proof remains scarce
|url         = https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-04-21/local-news/Live-Prime-Minister-and-Simon-Busuttil-face-off-on-Xarabank-6736173316
|website     = independent.com.mt
|location    = Malta
|publisher   = Open Publishing 
|access-date = 20 January 2025}}</ref> Muscat and his wife Michelle denied the claims and Muscat requested an independent magisterial inquiry, calling the allegations the 'biggest political lie in Malta's political history'.<ref name=":9">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-malta-election-idUSKBN18U0CW |title=Malta votes in snap election amid corruption scandal |last=Scicluna |first=Chris |date=3 June 2017 |work=Reuters |access-date=11 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607000628/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-malta-election-idUSKBN18U0CW |archive-date=7 June 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Muscat insisted that truth was on his side, and that he wanted to protect Malta from uncertainty, and called a general election.<ref name=":9" /> Corruption became the battlecry for the Nationalist Party in the general election campaign. Holding a snap election in the last months of Malta's [[Presidency of the Council of the European Union|rotating presidency of the EU Council]] was looked at with scepticism in Brussels.<ref name=":16">{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/maltas-eu-presidency-how-did-it-go/|title=Malta's EU presidency: How it went|date=30 June 2017|work=politico.eu|access-date=13 January 2020|archive-date=4 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104072339/https://www.politico.eu/article/maltas-eu-presidency-how-did-it-go/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The magisterial inquiry led by Magistrate [[Aaron Bugeja]] interviewed 477 witnesses.<ref name=":14">{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20180722/local/egrant-inquiry-no-evidence-linking-michelle-muscat-to-egrant.685044|title=Egrant inquiry finds falsified signatures, differing testimonies and no proof|last=Borġ|first=Bertram|date=22 July 2018|work=Times of Malta|access-date=19 September 2018|archive-date=18 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918230957/https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20180722/local/egrant-inquiry-no-evidence-linking-michelle-muscat-to-egrant.685044|url-status=live}}</ref> International forensic experts and firms sifted through thousands of documents and digital records from multiple sources.<ref name=":14" /> The inquiry required the collaboration of five nations (Panama, Belgium, the UAE, Germany and the USA) and spanned over 15 months. The results of the inquiry were made public on 22 July 2018 (though the final report of the inquiry was never released for public scrutiny). The inquiry found falsified signatures, differing testimonies and no proof that the Prime Minister, his wife, or their family had a connection with the company.<ref name=":14" /> The inquiry found no evidence linking the Prime Minister and his wife to the Panama company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/egrant-inquiry-no-evidence-linking-michelle-muscat-to-egrant.685044|title=Egrant inquiry finds falsified signatures, differing testimonies and no proof|website=Times of Malta|date=22 July 2018|access-date=30 November 2019|archive-date=17 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117153619/https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/egrant-inquiry-no-evidence-linking-michelle-muscat-to-egrant.685044|url-status=live}}</ref>
Muscat defined the Egrant allegations as an "undisputed and elaborate" attempt at a political frame up.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Galea |first1=Albert |title='Crystal clear' proof Egrant allegations were 'undisputed and elaborate attempt at frame-up' – PM |url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2018-07-22/local-news/Egrant-inquiry-report-PM-Joseph-Muscat-to-address-press-conference-at-10-30-6736193804 |access-date=29 September 2018 |agency=The Malta Independent |publisher=The Malta Independent |date=22 July 2018 |ref=IndAG |archive-date=29 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929114735/http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2018-07-22/local-news/Egrant-inquiry-report-PM-Joseph-Muscat-to-address-press-conference-at-10-30-6736193804 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In November 2021 in an affidavit presented in court in libel proceedings initiated by Muscat, Dr Peter Caruana Galizia, husband of Daphne Caruana Galizia, stated that his late wife had not told him who were those whom he described as "anonymous sources" within Pilatus Bank, who submitted documents, on the basis of which, the Egrant lie was constructed. The independent Magisterial inquiry concluded that these documents were false. Dr. Caruana Galizia confirmed in writing that his late wife saw these false documents and came to the conclusion that "she had proof that her suspicion about Egrant was well-founded".<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 June 2021 |title=Muscat again offers to drop Daphne libel if family acknowledges outcome of Egrant inquiry |url=https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2021-06-30/local-news/Muscat-again-offers-to-drop-Daphne-libel-if-family-acknowledges-outcome-of-Egrant-inquiry-6736234817 |website=independent.com.mt |location=Malta |publisher=Open Publishing |access-date=20 January 2025}}</ref>

And while for the last years, Maria Efimova, a Russian citizen, had presented herself as the source of the Egrant lie, in the affidavit Dr. Caruana Galizia said that Efimova may and may not be one of the sources his late wife had. Efimova has now been on the run from Malta for six years and is facing an international arrest warrant on a court order.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 November 2017 |title=International arrest warrants issued for missing Egrant whistleblower |url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/court_and_police/82233/international_arrest_warrants_issued_for_missing_egrant_whistleblower#.YTMv3p0zZPY |website=maltatoday.com.mt |location=Malta |publisher=Open Publishing |access-date=20 January 2025}}</ref> Efimova's version of events in her testimony in the Egrant inquiry contrasted with that of Daphne Caruana Galizia, and even the inquiring Magistrate commented about this and ordered criminal action against Efimova.<ref>{{Cite web
|date        = 22 July 2018
|title       = Caruana Galizia, Efimova, Pierre Portelli discredited by Egrant magisterial inquiry
|url         = https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/88360/caruana_galizia_efimova_pierre_portelli_discredited_by_egrant_magisterial_inquiry#.YTMwTp0zZPY
|website     = maltatoday.com.mt
|location    = Malta
|publisher   = Open Publishing 
|access-date = 20 January 2025}}</ref> In November 2020, Maria Efimova and former police officer Jonathan Ferris, were charged with perjury following the conclusions of the Egrant Inquiry. Efimova could not be traced to be notified about the case.<ref>{{Cite web
|date        = 11 November 2020
|title       = Egrant Inquiry fall-out: Ferris and Efimova charged with perjury
|url         = https://newsbook.com.mt/en/egrant-inquiry-fall-out-ferris-and-efimova-charged-with-perjury/
|website     = newsbook.com
|location    = Malta
|publisher   = Open Publishing 
|access-date = 20 January 2025}}</ref>

In his November 2021 affidavit Dr Peter Caruana Galizia also made reference to an article published in 2017 by his late wife where it was alleged that in March of the previous year a company belonging to the daughter of the President of Azerbaijan Leyla Aliyeva, made a single payment transaction of US$1.017 million to Egrant. Four years later, Dr Caruana Galizia stated that there is no evidence to substantiate this allegation.<ref>{{Cite web
|date        = 30 June 2021
|title       = Muscat claims vindication in affidavit by Daphne's husband
|url         = https://newsbook.com.mt/en/muscat-claims-vindication-in-affidavit-by-daphnes-husband/
|website     = newsbook.com
|location    = Malta
|publisher   = Open Publishing 
|access-date = 20 January 2025}}</ref>